US Approves Enforced State Auto-Repair Law Amid Hacking Concerns

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reversed its objection to a Massachusetts law requiring automakers to share vehicle data with independent repair shops, stating that automakers can comply with the law using short-range wireless technology. The NHTSA had previously raised concerns that sharing diagnostic data could make vehicles vulnerable to hacking. Massachusetts voters approved the law in 2020 to allow consumers to seek repairs outside of dealerships. The NHTSA clarified that longer-range wireless technologies could pose risks, but automakers must now comply with the state law using a short-range wireless compliance approach. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey praised the decision, stating that it will ease burdens and lower costs for Massachusetts drivers.