A bipartisan group of senators is taking aim at the auto industry, accusing major automakers of prioritizing profits over consumer security and privacy by selling customer data to third-party interests and blocking national right-to-repair legislation. In a scathing letter to the CEOs of top automakers, Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Josh Hawley (R-MO) urge the companies to drop their opposition to right-to-repair laws and better protect customer privacy.

The right-to-repair movement, which has gained momentum in recent years, seeks to give consumers the freedom to choose how and where to repair their own products, including cars. However, automakers have been collecting vast amounts of data on their customers, including driving habits, and selling it to insurance companies and other data brokers without consent. This practice has sparked concerns over consumer privacy and security, as well as the potential for monopolistic behavior by major automakers.

The senators' letter highlights the hypocrisy of the auto industry's stance on right-to-repair laws, citing the industry's claims of supporting consumer choice while simultaneously working to restrict access to vehicle data and funnel repairs to their franchised dealerships. The lawmakers argue that this approach is driven by profit rather than a genuine concern for consumer security or privacy.

The auto industry has raised cybersecurity concerns as a justification for opposing right-to-repair laws, but the senators dismiss these claims as "based on speculative future risks rather than facts." A Federal Trade Commission study found no empirical evidence to support the industry's assertions that independent repair shops would be more likely to compromise customer data than authorized dealerships.

Instead, the senators suggest that automakers are motivated by a desire to limit access to vehicle data for profit-driven reasons. They point out that while carmakers have been fighting tooth and nail against right-to-repair laws, they have simultaneously been sharing large amounts of sensitive consumer data with insurance companies and other third parties for profit – often without clear consumer consent.

The senators conclude their letter by urging the auto CEOs to abandon their opposition to right-to-repair laws and to answer a list of questions about their data-gathering practices. As Senator Warren stated, "We're pushing these automakers to stop ripping Americans off. Americans deserve the right to repair their cars wherever they choose, and independent repair shops deserve a chance to compete with these giants."

The controversy highlights the growing tension between the auto industry and consumers over issues of data privacy, security, and control. As cars become increasingly connected and reliant on digital information, the right-to-repair movement is likely to continue gaining momentum, with significant implications for the future of the automotive industry.