Govt Urges Auto Firms To Enhance Repair Accessibility For Consumer Welfare

Secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs Nidhi Khare addressed this issue during a meeting with Automobile Associations and their partner companies in the sector

These initiatives aim to empower consumers with informed choices regarding post-sale services and maximise their product enjoyment (Image Source: Pexels)

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The Department of Consumer Affairs under the central government has urged automobile manufacturers to enhance accessibility to repair manuals and instructional videos for all, aiming to foster a more inclusive ecosystem for third-party repair services while upholding consumer rights. 

Secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs Nidhi Khare addressed this issue during a meeting with Automobile Associations and their partner companies in the sector. As stated in an official statement released on Saturday, the objective was to integrate auto companies into the Right to Repair Portal India.

Representatives from various Automobile Associations such as ACMA, SIAM, ATMA, EPIC Foundation, and companies including Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, TVS, Royal Enfield, Renault, Bosch, Yamaha Motors India, and Honda Car India were present at the meeting.

The government launched the Right to Repair Portal India (https://righttorepairindia.gov.in/) to facilitate consumer access to repair information, promote product reuse and contribute to a circular economy while reducing e-waste efficiently.

During the discussions, it was highlighted that products designed with limited repair options or planned obsolescence contribute to e-waste and compel consumers to purchase new products unnecessarily due to high repair costs or lack of repair options. Therefore, the focus is on eliminating barriers such as restricted access to tools or repair information, ensuring consumers have full ownership and control over their purchased products.

“Over time, it has been noted that repair services are increasingly constrained due to significant delays in service and absence of repair documentation for vehicles. Additionally, products are sometimes repaired at excessively high costs, leaving consumers dissatisfied with repair services which often delays repairs, even if necessary, due to limited repair options,” it was stressed during the meeting.

These initiatives aim to empower consumers with informed choices regarding post-sale services and maximise their product enjoyment. The meeting concluded with a consensus to integrate with the Right to Repair Portal and adopt a collaborative approach to enhance consumer post-sale services.

Additional discussions covered topics such as standardising parts and skilled workmanship, developing catalogues for post-purchase service benefits, and addressing deceptive practices in repair workshops under motor insurance schemes contributing to unnecessary plastic waste generation.

It was emphasised that companies should provide details of their service centres across India, recognise third-party repairers if applicable, and clearly state the country of origin for transparency.