CAWA meets with state legislators to hash out industry concerns

CAWA meets with state legislators to hash out industry concerns

The California/Nevada/Arizona Automotive Wholesalers’ Association (CAWA) has spent the past week reaching out to various state-level officials in an attempt to share their concerns over regulatory and legislative issues affecting the automotive aftermarket.

The group has met with California and Arizona legislators with plans to educate more government officials on some of the issues that impact the industry.

A private meeting with California Sen. Tom Harman was held at Hub Auto Supply in Costa Mesa March 18, with CAWA members Brian Webb of Hub Auto Supply, Costa Mesa; Darryl Webb of Haps Auto Supply in Lakewood; Gary Mercer of Dura International; Steve Salustri of RPS Marketing; and CAWA Director of Government Affairs Jennifer Zins.

The group discussed legislative and regulatory issues impacting the automotive aftermarket and business industries in California. Also joining CAWA was ASCCA member Mark Redfield of Marks Automotive in Newport Beach.    

Sen. Harman, a member of both the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee, as well as the Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee, heard about such issues as eroding workers compensation reforms, skyrocketing health care costs, access to repair information and the increased need for career and technical training programs and actions by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to extend warranties and propose bans of automotive related products, according to CAWA.

CAWA, along with other industry associations, also met with Abby Donovan, legislative counsel to Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl to highlight and promote the national Right to Repair Act.  

Held at Blackwell’s Automotive in Phoenix on March 19, several industry decision-makers attended the private meeting, according to a CAWA news release.

HR 2694, the Motor Vehicle Owners Right to Repair Act, prevents vehicle manufacturers and others from unfairly restricting access to the information and tools necessary to accurately diagnose, repair, re-program or install automotive replacement parts. HR 2694 currently has 40 cosponsors in Congress. Although in the independent repair sector, opinions differ on whether legislation is necessary.

“Having the ability to meet one on one in an aftermarket shop with aftermarket professionals really helps lawmakers understand the real world implications of the need for the Right to Repair Act”, says Rodney K. Pierini, CAWA's president & CEO. “CAWA  and its members in California, Nevada and Arizona are committed to making certain that consumers throughout the nation have access to a competitive vehicle repair industry through the passage of HR 2694”. 

For more information, visit www.cawa.org.