Protecting Consumer Choice: IAAF Urges UK Government to Update Legislation to Restrain Technical Monopolies by Vehicle Manufacturers

On May 27, 2026, the Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) officially sent a formal letter to the UK Department for Transport (DfT), warning that current automotive regulations have fallen significantly behind technological advancements, leaving independent workshops at serious risk of being stripped of access to core vehicle data.

Following systematic industry research, the IAAF pointed out that the aftermarket contributes over 60% of the UK automotive sector’s £93 billion total output, and more than 75% of vehicle servicing and repairs in the UK are performed by the independent network. However, an increasing number of vehicle manufacturers are leveraging Connected Vehicles and Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) architectures to artificially lock down and restrict access to remote diagnostics and real-time data streams. IAAF Chief Executive Mark Field emphasized that the current Block Exemption Regulations and vehicle type-approval laws do not offer adequate protection in the digital era, noting that some OEMs are even misinterpreting future 2028 data acts as an excuse to lock technical documentation, a move that severely dampens market competition and drives up out-of-pocket repair costs for car owners.

Impact:

1. Public Data Dispute: Signals a full-scale escalation in the digital battle over the “Right to Repair” between independent networks and multinational OEMs in the UK.

2. Driving Policy Overhauls: Recent polls show that 82% of vehicle owners firmly believe they should have the absolute freedom to choose their repair facility, which will pressure the UK government to re-examine relevant legislative frameworks in the second half of 2026.