Mazda, Kia, and BYD improve access to service and repair information after ACCC investigations

Mazda, Kia, and BYD have improved access and reduced the costs for independent repairers to access their service and repair information, following separate ACCC investigations.

Under the Motor Vehicle Service and Repair Information Sharing Scheme (MVIS), data providers, such as vehicle manufacturers, must offer service and repair information needed to diagnose, repair or service passenger vehicles (known as Scheme Information) to all Australian repairers on reasonable commercial terms, including a fair market price.

The ACCC investigated offers made by Mazda, Kia and BYD under the MVIS, which raised concerns about access to this information.

“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

“This equipment could cost thousands of dollars and, in some cases, independent repairers were charged significantly more for it than authorised repairers.”

Following the ACCC’s investigation, Mazda Australia provided a court-enforceable undertaking to ACCC committing to improve its MVIS compliance.

Mazda had previously required independent repairers to use a specific Mazda device to access certain diagnostic information. After the ACCC investigation, this information is now accessible through devices that independent repairers more commonly use. 

Mazda Australia is also offering refunds to some independent repairers who paid more to access its Scheme Information than they would have paid using an alternative option if it had been made available to them.

Following the ACCC’s investigation, Kia has introduced a program that allows independent repairers to access its diagnostic hardware and software for $136 a day. Previously, the minimum upfront cost, which included the outright purchase of hardware, was around $9,780.