MAACO Joins Quality Parts Coalition at NACE 2009

Release date: November 18, 2009  /  Print This     RSS    

Following the conclusion of the International Autobody Congress & Exposition (NACE 2009), the Quality Parts Coalition (QPC) today welcomed MAACO Franchising, Inc. to its growing list of members and supporters dedicated to preserving consumer choice and competition in the automotive aftermarket. MAACO joins QPC as the Coalition moves closer to advancing the “Access to Repair Parts Act,” (H.R. 3059/S.1368) legislation that would provide a narrow exception to U.S. design patent law, resulting in the continued availability of low-cost, high-quality alternative replacement parts needed to restore vehicles to their original condition.

MAACO understands the importance of this legislation and what it means for consumers and maintaining a healthy automotive aftermarket. With nearly 500 collision repair locations across North America, MAACO provides auto paint and collision repair services for more than 12,000 vehicles a week, close to 600,000 a year. By offering quality, low-cost, alternative collision repair parts, MAACO ensures that its customers have a choice in how their vehicles are repaired. This is especially important for the many MAACO customers who pay for repairs out-of-pocket. The availability of these low-cost alternatives ensures they need not choose between costly vehicle repairs and necessities such as groceries and healthcare.

The major car companies, however, are pursuing a strategy to block competition on crash parts, such as bumpers, fenders and hoods by obtaining design patents on these individual parts. This puts consumer choice in jeopardy and threatens to send the prices of parts soaring.

“The QPC is fighting to preserve the ability of companies like MAACO to offer their customers a low-cost, quality option,” said David Lapps, president and COO of MAACO Franchising, Inc. “At MAACO, we service more vehicles than any company in the nation. For the 13 percent of Americans who pay for repairs out-of-pocket, a car company monopoly would be especially devastating.”

Earlier this year, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) introduced the “Access to Repair Parts Act” (H.R. 3059/S.1368), a bill that would guarantee consumers and repair shops’ access to low-cost alternative collision repair parts when restoring vehicles to pre-accident condition. The availability of quality alternatives saves Americans approximately $1.5 billion a year.

“With MAACO lending its support to the Quality Parts Coalition, we are more empowered than ever to ensure passage of the ‘Access to Repair Parts Act,” said Eileen A. Sottile, executive director of the QPC. “At a time when consumers are keeping their vehicles longer, it is incredibly important that we stop any attempt to curb availability of high-quality, low-cost alternative collision repair parts. The increase in expensive collision repair parts could lead to higher insurance premiums for consumers, more vehicles being declared as total losses and ultimately less business for independent repairers.”