Fine Gael MEP Brian Hayes has said that there is no risk to the future of small independent car garages following concerns that new EU legislation would remove a vital component that enabled them to repair cars.
“Concern had been expressed that new legislation (Type Approval) would allow car manufacturers to make new vehicles without an “On Board Diagnostic Connector” (OBD). This is a small device on a car that allows car garages to connect a computer and access a vehicles diagnostic data. Without an OBD it would be impossible for car garages, with the exception of the car manufacturer, to do basic repairs on cars such as replace batteries or reset service reminders.”
“Understandably the prospect of the OBD connection being removed caused significant concern for car repair garages across Ireland. It would mean that an owner of a Ford car could only have their car repaired in a Ford garage as independent garages would not have the technology to access the data of the car.”
“MEPs have now successfully amended the original legislation proposed by the Commission. The decision will be given the final stamp of approval next week when the European Parliament votes.”
