Sign the petition

Over recent months Autobiz Magazine has been lending its support to a campaign to ensure that the
OBD connector, the small communication device that allows independent garages access to vehicle diagnostic data, remains a compulsory item that car manufacturers must include on future models under EU vehicle type approval legislation.

New rules relating to type approval regulation are currently being discussed in crucial ‘Trilogue’ discussions between the EU Commission, the European Parliament and the Member Council and it is essential that certain amendments are adopted that ensure the compulsion to fit an OBD remains in place. If in the future the EU allows manufacturers to produce cars without OBD connectors it will have a devastating impact on independent garages in Ireland. They would effectively be excluded from access to vehicle diagnostic information, giving manufacturer dealerships a huge uncompetitive advantage in vehicle service and repair. This could lead to the loss of thousands of jobs in Ireland’s independent motor trade sector, not just in garages and bodyshops, but also in motor factors, parts suppliers, equipment suppliers and many other service providers.

Autobiz opened a petition on this issue to readers in September and gathered hundreds of signatures from concerned garages, part suppliers and motorists. We have since presented this petition to Irish MEPs. At the same time we have also made representations to the Irish Road Safety Authority who also have influence on these discussions.

Over the coming weeks we continue to work with industry representative bodies the IAAF and FIGIEFA to move towards a positive outcome for the Irish aftermarket.

We will bring you a further update on this issue in our December publication and keep you posted on any latest developments on our news website at www.autobiz.ie