Jim Farley and other automakers are lobbying against HR 1566, the REPAIR Act, claiming vehicles are too complex for independent shops to safely fix. This legislation mandates that OEMs provide independent repair businesses with unrestricted access to vehicle data, critical repair information, and diagnostic tools. While manufacturers argue the bill creates severe cybersecurity risks, the real motive is clear: protecting the franchise dealer economic models and their lucrative

The automotive repair industry is facing compound skimpflation: rising sticker prices paired with plummeting service quality. While official data shows repair costs climbing 4.3 times faster than in the previous decade, many shops are "liquidating value" to survive. From the "parts cannon" approach to the technological tax of closed software, the traditional model is breaking. The Car Conservatory prioritizes stewardship over throughput to restore genuine value.