ACCC Fines OEM in Landmark Decision

In a first for Australia, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has issued a penalty to Honda Australia for breaching the Motor Vehicle Service and Repair Information Sharing Scheme (MVIS).

The MVIS, introduced in July 2022, mandates car manufacturers provide fair access to diagnostic software and technical information to independent repairers. This information is essential for servicing and repairing modern vehicles, and its availability is crucial for independent shops to compete with dealerships.

The ACCC found that Honda Australia breached the MVIS by offering its diagnostic software only through annual subscriptions. This restriction limited the flexibility of independent repairers, who often require access to this information on a more frequent basis.

MTAA has been the leading advocate and champion of the MVIS and this decision is a positive step towards ensuring that rules and regulations for Australia's automotive service and repair sector are adhered to. However, there's still room for improvement. We continue to advocate alongside MTAA for the expansion of the MVIS to include heavy vehicles, motorcycles, and agricultural machinery, further supporting the diverse automotive industry.

For more details, read the full media release.