The Australian arms of Mazda, Kia and BYD have changed the way independent Australian repairers can access vehicle servicing and diagnostic information following separate investigations by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

According to the ACCC, the changes are designed to make it easier and much cheaper for independent workshops to service and repair vehicles from the three brands, potentially giving owners greater choice beyond dealership service departments.

Under Australia’s Motor Vehicle Service and Repair Information Sharing Scheme (MVIS), car manufacturers must make information required to diagnose, service and repair passenger vehicles available to Australian repairers on reasonable commercial terms and at a fair market price.

Bright lime-green SUV speeding by a red auto shop building with blurred signage in the background, motion blur emphasizes speed.
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However, concerns were raised that independent repairers working on Mazda, Kia and BYD vehicles were being required to purchase expensive equipment to access some of that information, likely raising the cost for owners to repair those cars.

“We were concerned that independent repairers were required to purchase expensive equipment if they wanted to access information needed to service and diagnose vehicles,” ACCC Deputy Chair Mick Keogh said.

The ACCC said the equipment could cost thousands of dollars and in some instances independent workshops were being charged considerably more than authorised repairers. Those increased costs were almost certainly passed on to car owners.

Mazda Australia has now provided a court-enforceable undertaking to improve its compliance. Previously, independent repairers needed a specific Mazda device to access certain diagnostic information, but that info can now be accessed using other devices that are reportedly more commonly found in independent workshops. The brand will also offer refunds to some repairers who paid more to access information than they would have if an alternative option had been available.

Kia has also made changes for independent workshops. Independent repairers can now access its diagnostic hardware and software for $136 per day, compared with a previous minimum upfront cost of around $9780. BYD has introduced a similar $140 daily option after repairers faced paying $600 for monthly access or $14,719.60 to purchase the equipment outright.

The development follows further ACCC scrutiny of the automotive industry. In August, the watchdog launched Federal Court proceedings against Subaru Australia over allegations it failed to provide independent repairers with equal access to required servicing and repair information.