Electric vehicle manufacturers Tesla and Rivian have written separately to the Automotive Service Association and the Alliance for Automotive Innovation pledging support for their joint commitment to automotive data sharing.
Rohan Patel, Vice President Public Policy and Business Development at Tesla, told the organisations that the company agrees that customers should have access to safe and proper repairs throughout a vehicle’s lifecycle.
“Tesla agrees with standards laid out in the commitment and is happy to support this effort. Tesla’s history of supporting vehicle owners’ right to repair is well-documented. Tesla’s mission to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy includes empowering independent repairers to service electric vehicles as the global fleet grows. Through a comprehensive library of publicly available manuals and guides, Tesla already provides extensive information for independent and do-it-yourself repairers,” said Patel.
According to Patel, Tesla owners have numerous options to repair their vehicles at commercial repair facilities, including Tesla-operated workshops, Tesla-affiliated repairers, independent repairers, and national chains of repair providers. Tesla owners can also conduct a range of services on their vehicles, from routine work using Tesla’s do-it-yourself guides, to more complex repairs described in repair manuals.
“In addition to supporting the customer’s right to choose their preferred method of repairing their vehicle, Tesla also protects drivers’ safety and security through industry-backed standards,” said Patel.
Rivian expressed similar sentiment. “Rivian agrees that our customers should have access to safe and proper repairs throughout a vehicle’s life cycle, and further, is aligned with supporting the independent repair community as provided in the commitment,” said Alan Hoffman, Chief Policy Officer at Rivian.
The company, which sells EVs directly to customers in consumer and commercial markets, owns and operates service centres and mobile service facilities but also offers several independent repair choices. These include a growing network of third-party Rivian certified collision centres, and options for third-party glass repair and advanced driver assistance system calibration. It also provides third-party and self-service options for entry level / commoditised repairs on its commercial vehicles.
“Rivian supports third-party collision centres by providing access to Rivian repair manuals, service parts, tools and training, enabling them to safely repair Rivian vehicles. Rivian intends to leverage similar approaches as we increase third-party and do-it-yourself options,” said Hoffman.
He added that the company aims to lead in “self-repair” by developing features that enable third parties and individuals to increasingly perform service on Rivian vehicles.