The missing piece: How policy clarity supports innovation and trust in auto care 

The future of automotive mobility is about innovation, electrification, and digital transformation. While these advancements matter, a critical issue impacting the auto care sector is not at the forefront: the lack of clear, consistent policy frameworks to support a balanced, competitive auto care ecosystem. 

Enforcement of the Right to Repair is inconsistent across Canada. While Quebec has a law in place and Manitoba recently announced legislation, it is applied unevenly. Full access to tools, software, parts, and vehicle data often remains limited or unclear. Independent repairers are legally allowed to operate but still face practical barriers. 

Unclear enforcement creates market uncertainty. Independent businesses hesitate to invest in advanced training, equipment, and new capabilities when access to critical resources is not guaranteed. This ultimately weakens the sector’s strength and diversity. 

A similar pattern is emerging with electric vehicles (EVs). Policymakers have focused on speeding up EV adoption but have paid less attention to how these vehicles will be serviced throughout their lifecycle. Questions about diagnostic access, battery service, software updates, and safety standards remain unresolved. 

This lack of clarity puts independent repair shops in a difficult position as they prepare for EV servicing without a defined framework. This uncertainty often drives more servicing into existing channels, not by design but by default. 

Innovation and trust in a changing landscape 

Independent repairers have long driven the auto care sector. They offer flexibility, respond quickly, and innovate. They introduce new service models, speed up turnaround times, and make access easier for local consumers. 

Innovation depends on predictability. Unclear or inconsistently applied policies make businesses more cautious about investing in new technologies or workforce development, slowing sector progress and limiting consumer solutions. 

Consumers may also feel the effects over time. As stated in an AIA Canada report from 2025, Who has the right to repair? Vehicle owners’ perspectives on data access and ownership, changes such as higher repair costs, longer wait times, or fewer local service options can influence perceptions, even if the underlying causes are not immediately visible. When repair processes become less transparent or choices feel more limited, it can gradually impact trust in the broader automotive ecosystem. 

The long-term importance of clarity 

Policy gaps do not necessarily create immediate disruption, but they can introduce longer-term challenges. As vehicles become more software-driven and technologically advanced, clarity around access, standards, and responsibilities becomes increasingly important. 

Maintaining a strong and competitive auto care sector requires not only innovation but also a stable and predictable environment in which businesses can plan and invest with confidence. Supporting that environment today can help preserve capacity, skills, and consumer choice for the future. 

The path forward is not about adding complexity, but about ensuring that existing frameworks are clear, consistent, and effectively implemented. Specifically, this means establishing standardized processes for framework adoption, enhancing guidance on compliance, and increasing stakeholder collaboration. By addressing these key gaps, the industry can continue to evolve in ways that support innovation, competition, and trust across the entire auto care ecosystem. 

To learn more about the importance of the Right to Repair in the auto care sector, and what it means for businesses and consumers alike, consult the latest report, Unlocking Access: Why the Right to Repair matters to every vehicle owner, today.