Trump to Auto Giants: “That’s Strange” on Repair Ban Push

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Ford and GM executives walked into the White House and asked President Trump to back a law that would stop you from fixing your own car — and even Trump said that was strange.

Story Snapshot

Trump says Ford and GM executives pushed him to support legislation that would block vehicle owners from repairing their own cars.
The Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair (REPAIR) Act would require automakers to share diagnostic data and repair tools with owners and independent shops.
A July 2025 poll found 83% of Americans support the REPAIR Act, including 84% of Republicans and 82% of Democrats.
Automakers claim cybersecurity risks justify restricting repair access, but critics point out they freely sell customer data to insurance companies for profit.

Trump Sides With Car Owners Over Big Auto

During an Oval Office event on June 4, 2026, President Trump told reporters about a meeting he had with auto industry leaders. He said executives from Ford, General Motors, and Penske Corporation asked him to back a bill that would limit how people fix their own vehicles. Trump said he was shocked. “They don’t want people to fix their car,” Trump told the room. “I said, ‘That’s strange. I’d never heard of that.'” He added that he planned to “get it all straightened away.”

Ford confirmed that Andrew Frick, president of Ford Blue and Model e, attended the June 3 White House meeting where vehicle repair was discussed. General Motors sent its CEO, Mary Barra. Beyond confirming attendance, neither company explained what they asked for. No specific bill text has been made public. Right now, the public is working from Trump’s account of a private meeting and little else.

What the REPAIR Act Would Actually Do

The bill at the center of this fight is the Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair Act, also known as the REPAIR Act (H.R. 1566). It would require automakers to give vehicle owners and independent repair shops access to the same diagnostic data, repair tools, and vehicle information currently available only to manufacturers and their authorized dealerships. The Federal Trade Commission would enforce those rights.

Modern vehicles send repair and maintenance data wirelessly — directly to the automaker. The automaker then controls who gets access and at what price. Independent shops and everyday owners are often locked out. The REPAIR Act would end that gatekeeping by law. A July 2025 national poll found that more than 83% of Americans support the bill, with nearly equal support from Republicans and Democrats alike.

The Cybersecurity Argument — and Its Holes

Automakers argue that opening vehicle data to outside repair shops creates cybersecurity risks. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation has said that real-time, two-way access to vehicle systems is not necessary to diagnose or fix a car. Ford CEO Jim Farley has also said he does not want owners doing warranty repair work, citing safety. These are real concerns worth taking seriously, but they do not tell the whole story.

A bipartisan group of senators — including Josh Hawley (R-MO), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) — called out the automakers directly. They pointed out that while Ford and GM block repair shops from accessing diagnostic data in the name of privacy, those same companies freely sell large amounts of customer data to insurance companies for profit. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has also stated that cybersecurity concerns should not be used as a reason to block owner-authorized repairs. The REPAIR Act itself limits data access to repair and maintenance functions only — it does not include real-time location or driving behavior data.

Why This Matters to Your Wallet

If automakers gain full control over who can access your car’s repair data, they gain near-total control over where you can get it fixed and what you pay. Independent repair shops handle more than 70% of post-warranty vehicle repairs. Cutting them off from diagnostic data would funnel that business straight to dealerships, where prices are higher and wait times are longer. That is not a safety measure — it is a business strategy that costs you money.

Trump’s position here lines up with something most Americans already believe: if you bought the truck, you should be able to fix the truck. The REPAIR Act reflects that common-sense principle. Big automakers walking into the White House to lobby against your right to repair your own property is exactly the kind of corporate overreach that frustrates everyday Americans — and this time, the president agrees with you.