The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has allowed Massachusetts to proceed with its recent right-to-repair legislation, CBS News reports.
The NHTSA had instructed automakers to disregard the law earlier this year, which had been overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2020.
The organization cited the Federal Vehicle Safety Act as the basis for its position, claiming that allowing more access to vehicle data could make it easier to steal data and even vehicles themselves.
This was challenged by Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, who wrote to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and NHTSA Deputy Administrator Sophie Shulman urging them to reconsider.
With some security changes, the law will now be enforced without pushback from the agency.
“The Right to Repair Coalition is pleased to see that NHTSA has reevaluated its position and concluded there are multiple ways to implement the right to repair law that don't conflict with the Federal Vehicle Safety Act,” stated Tommy Hickey, executive director of the Massachusetts Right to Repair Coalition.
