The Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA) welcomes action taken by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) against Honda Australia for an alleged breach of the Motor Vehicle Information Sharing Scheme (MVIS).
Honda Australia paid an $18,780 penalty for allegedly violating the MVIS by only offering its diagnostic software through annual subscriptions rather than providing daily or monthly options as required.
It marks the ACCC’s first infringement notice under the MVIS, which came into effect on July 1, 2022. The scheme ensures independent repairers have fair access to diagnostic software and technical data for servicing and repairing modern vehicles.
“This enforcement action demonstrates that while the scheme is relatively new, the ACCC is watching and willing to take action to ensure the scheme is successful and there is an even playing field for independent repairers across Australia, no matter the car brand,” MTAA chief executive Matt Hobbs says.
“Whilst we’re pleased to see the scheme functioning effectively, there is still room for improvement. As the scheme is still relatively new, it is critical that repairers let AASRA and ACCC know of any issues in gaining access to information needed to fix Australian cars.
“The Australian Car market is continuing to evolve – new technologies including driver assistance as well as great numbers of hybrids and EVs going on sale and the MVIS will need to evolve with it,” he says.
The MTAA forecasts that 160 additional EVs will go on sale by 2030 over a dozen new brands will enter the market.
It emphasises the importance of all manufacturers adhering to the provisions of the Act to maintain a level playing field among data providers. This ensures that independent repairers can compete fairly in the automotive service and repair market.
Looking ahead, the MTAA will continue to advocate for improved access to repair information. Pushing for the inclusion of heavy vehicles, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, and farm and agricultural machinery in the scheme to further support our diverse automotive industry.
It commends the ACCC’s oversight and AASRA’s role in the day-to-day operations of the MVIS. It encourages all industry participants to familiarise themselves with the scheme and utilise the resources available through the AASRA website (https://aasra.com.au/).
