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Right to Repair SA rallies up support from major industry players

Sep 07, 2017 Right2Repair, Aftermarket, RightToRepair, repair, workshop, garage, R2RSA


 
Right to Repair SA (R2RSA) has been rallying up support for the Right to Repair campaign over the last few months and major industry stakeholders have stepped up.
 
Richard Clarke, Chairman of the not-for-profit Section 21 company, R2RSA, says more and more industry players are realising the importance of the campaign and the change it will bring to the industry. “We are now active in the press and marketing the campaign so we can get sponsors on board to assist us in aggressively driving this campaign forward. The response so far has been very positive and we expect more and more support as the campaign progresses,” he says.
 
Big names such as Goldwagen, MAHLE, Bosch, Autoboys, Tenneco, Bilstein, AAAS, Samuels Service Centre and Alert Engine Parts have all come on board as Tier 1 sponsors. The Motor Industry Workshop Association (MIWA), which initially championed the Right to Repair Campaign, and GUD Holdings, which includes brands such as Safeline, Indyoil, Fram and GUD, have pledged the bulk of the sponsorship to date.
 
“The Right to Repair campaign directly affects consumers who are being denied the right to have their vehicle repaired at a workshop of their choice. We believe now is the time to give consumers and industry stakeholders a voice and a way to get involved,” says Clarke. “Our objective is to raise awareness and ultimately bring about legislative change.”
 
Along with ensuring consumers are given the right to choose where their vehicles are serviced at competitive prices, this will also give aftermarket workshops access to information essential to servicing vehicles. “Denying workshops the chance to repair vehicles because of warranties and access to information has allowed Original Equipment Manufacturers to monopolise the automotive industry. If there is no change, workshops will no longer be able to service new vehicles sold in five years’ time,” he says.
 
“We are still approaching potential supporters. There will be many challenges we will have to tackle over the coming months but with all industry stakeholders coming together to fight for the changes we believe must happen, it is only a matter of time before we see legislative changes. We have seen these changes happen in Europe, the UK, USA and Australia. South Africa’s time in now,” concludes Clarke.
 
Those wanting to support the campaign as a sponsor can email elizabeth@r2r.org.za.
 
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