AAIA's government affairs staff represents the automotive aftermarket and its interests before federal and state legislators and regulators to ensure that your concerns are recognized and understood by the country's decision-makers. AAIA actively communicates with legislators and lobbies for government policies that are favorable to your business.

Cutting Through the Regulatory Maze

You need to know the how federal and state laws affect your business, and, more importantly, how to comply with them. AAIA staff can help you navigate the complicated world of state and federal law and regulation. Members also receive publications like the Capital Report and the Weekly State and Federal Updates. (Please note: these are member-only publications.)

AAIA Urges Congress to Say “Yes” to
Automotive Patent Repair Clause

Congressional Hearing Highlights Importance of Competition to Consumers

In a hearing on Feb. 14 before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on , the Consumer Federation of America (CFA), in conjunction with Public Citizen, Consumers Union, the Center for Auto Safety and Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, testified in support of preserving competition in the automobile replacement parts marketplace. The Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) joins CFA and others in supporting an automotive design patent repair clause that will maintain the American consumer’s right to competition in the collision parts marketplace – a right consumers have had for more than 60 years.

The number of design patents awarded to the major automobile manufacturers has dramatically increased, growing in the past five years to about 20 to 25 percent of the total U.S. patents awarded to those manufacturers. Collision parts account for 50 to 93 percent of the U.S. design patents awarded to the car companies. Without a permanent legislative solution, automaker design patents could eliminate the entire alternative replacement parts industry, thus removing competition, driving up costs to consumers and threatening thousands of American jobs.

“AAIA supports the Consumer Federation of America, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety and the Center for Auto Safety in their pursuit to preserve competition in the automotive replacement parts industry," said Kathleen Schmatz, AAIA president and CEO. "In the 1990s, Congress said ‘no’ to an auto industry monopoly on replacement parts. It is time now for Congress to say ‘yes’ to the repair clause to prevent the auto companies from obtaining their monopoly through another route – design patent law.”

For questions, contact govaffairs@aftermarket.org. If you are interested in learning more about our programs, please click here.

Visit AAIA's Legislative Action Center to contact your elected representatives about these hot issues affecting the automotive aftermarket.

The Motor Vehicle Owners Right to Repair Act prevents vehicle manufacturers and others from unfairly restricting access to the information, parts and tools necessary to accurately diagnose, repair, re-program or install automotive replacement parts.

AAIA's Automotive Aftermarket Political Action Committee (AAPAC) provides members with an easy, powerful way to get personally involved in the political process.

2009 Legislative Action Summit
March 11-12, 2009
Washington, D.C.
This biannual event provides an opportunity for aftermarket professionals to come to Capitol Hill to meet with key congressional leaders about issues that affect and impact their businesses.