FTC revs up ‘right to repair’ fight with Harley-Davidson agreement

WASHINGTON – Harley-Davidson and a Westinghouse generator maker have agreed to drop some constraints on who repairs their products, the U.S. Federal Trade Fee explained on Thursday.

The agency voted final yr to make it a precedence to press producers to quit requiring buyers to use licensed dealers to mend things ranging from smartphones to farm gear. Critics say the practice raises rates for individuals and shuts out impartial maintenance shops.

The FTC said in its complaint against Harley-Davidson, which was produced at the identical time as the consent settlement, that it had objected to language utilised by the bike maker this kind of as “the use of parts and support techniques other than Harley-Davidson accepted parts and assistance treatments might void the limited guarantee.”

Under the settlement, Harley-Davidson agreed that it would not void warranties mainly because the purchaser employed 3rd-party elements or unauthorized assistance facilities.

Outside generator maker MWE Investments, component of Westinghouse Electric powered Corp, designed a equivalent arrangement with the FTC.

Appropriate-to-maintenance was section of a sweeping executive purchase that President Joe Biden signed last summer time aimed at advertising far more opposition in the financial system. The order dealt with grievances as disparate as non-contend clauses in employee contracts and significant rates for listening to aids. read additional

Neither Harley-Davidson nor Westinghouse immediately responded to a ask for for remark.