Trump Steps Into Right-to-Repair Fight After Talks With Ford and GM, Farley Weighs In

A long-running dispute over who should be allowed to fix modern vehicles has now reached the highest levels of American politics. According to Car and Driver, President Trump was briefed on the right-to-repair conflict by Ford and GM, and has said he intends to resolve it. Ford CEO Jim Farley publicly responded to the development.

The right-to-repair debate centers on access to vehicle data, tools and parts, pitting automakers against independent shops and owners who argue they are being locked out of their own cars. As software-defined vehicles become the norm, that tension has only sharpened.

Trump’s pledge to settle the matter signals that the issue is no longer confined to trade groups and state legislatures. With Farley now on record, the conversation is shifting toward what a workable national framework might look like for both manufacturers and the aftermarket.