Full Breakdown
Trump, Ford, GM, and Penske Discuss Right to Repair at White House
6/13/2026, 12:40:59 AM
White House Meeting on Right to Repair
On June 3, President Donald Trump convened an Oval Office meeting with Ford, General Motors and dealer leader Roger Penske to discuss Right to Repair legislation. Trump said automakers “don’t want people to fix their car,” called the issue “strange,” and promised the federal government would “get it all straightened away.”
Historical Context
The Right to Repair movement stems from a 2014 voluntary memorandum where major automakers agreed to share diagnostic tools for vehicles built from 2002 onward and computer access for 2018 models. The agreement is non-binding and lacks enforcement.
Stakeholders
Key participants are President Trump, Ford CEO Jim Farley, an unnamed GM executive, and Roger Penske. The Alliance for Auto Innovation, a automaker lobbying group, frames the debate around safety and cybersecurity. Independent repair shops number about 300,000.
Numbers at a Glance
The average U.S. vehicle is now 13 years old. Dealer service revenue fell 12 % since 2018, and only 29 % of owners use dealer service centers, down from 33 % eight years ago. Independent shops have risen from 266,000 to 300,000.
Official Statements
Trump asserted that automakers want a bill banning owners from fixing their cars and referenced an alleged seven-year prison sentence for a DIY repair, without details. Farley described Ford’s position as “very reasonable,” emphasizing repairs at a “reasonable cost” and warning that home warranty work could endanger lives because of specialty tools. The Alliance for Auto Innovation cautioned that unrestricted computer access could create security risks, such as remote vehicle control.
Consumer Opposition
Consumer groups say safety claims mask protection of proprietary diagnostic data, limiting owners’ ability to maintain vehicles. They note the 2014 memorandum lacks enforcement and cite the John Deere $99 million settlement as a precedent for anti-repair tactics.
Implications
If legislation blocks broader data sharing, owners may face higher repair costs, independent shops could be forced to buy expensive OEM tools, and dealers would capture a larger share of service revenue. Mandated sharing could lower consumer expenses but raise automakers’ cybersecurity concerns.
Conflicting Accounts
Trump’s reference to a seven-year prison term for a DIY repair has not been verified, and the GM representative at the meeting was not identified. No specific Right to Repair bill was named, leaving the legislative path unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “they don’t want people to fix their car.” — Donald Trump, President
- “'" The President said that "Nobody’s allowed to fix their car, they gave a man seven years in jail actually because he fixed his own car.” — Donald Trump, President
- “Ford’s position is very reasonable, really,” — Jim Farley, CEO, Ford
- “We’re a big advocate for the ability to repair a vehicle, but it has to be done at a reasonable cost.” — Jim Farley, CEO, Ford
Outlook
Congress is reviewing several Right to Repair bills. Stakeholders expect the White House meeting to shape forthcoming language, while consumer advocates plan to push for enforceable provisions.
