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Fix the Hog: Harley, Westinghouse ordered to fix warranties:
Federal regulators have accused Harley-Davidson and Westinghouse of imposing illegal warranty terms on customers and ordered them to fix their warranties and ensure that their dealers compete fairly with independent repair-makers.
The companies have imposed illegal warranty terms that voided customer warranties if they used anyone other than the companies and their authorized dealers to get parts or repairs — restricting their options and costing them more money, the Federal Trade Commission announced Thursday in actions against the Milwaukee motorcycle maker and MWE Investments, which makes Westinghouse-brand outdoor power generators and related equipment.
Under a proposed consent agreement with the agency, the companies will be prohibited from telling customers that their warranties will be voided if they use third-party services or parts, or that they should only use branded parts or authorized service providers.
The companies also will be required to add specific language to their warranties recognizing consumers' right to repair: "Taking your product to be serviced by a repair shop that is not affiliated with or an authorized dealer of (company name) will not void this warranty. Also, using third-party parts will not void this warranty."
(Score: 2) by hendrikboom on Sunday June 26 2022, @11:49AM (5 children)
Is Tesla next? or will Musk simply not consent to a consent decree?
(Score: 2) by NateMich on Sunday June 26 2022, @01:58PM (4 children)
Can you actually get Tesla parts or repairs anywhere else though? I mean besides maybe one place.
(Score: 2) by Immerman on Sunday June 26 2022, @02:40PM (3 children)
At the very least I'm certain there's third parties selling refurbished Tesla-made parts.
And while they are currently still a new and niche manufacturer, as their share of the market expands alternate parts manufacturers will emerge just as they have for the other brands. So long as their right to exist is legally protected.
There may also be some lag as the EV market in total expands. If you buy an off-brand alternator it's likely to be designed to serve in a wide range of vehicles - it's going to take a while before a similarly sized market for EV parts is established.
As right to repair gains momentum it would be nice if it could improve things beyond "the good old days" by somehow encouraging companies to standardize on parts where there's no good (i.e. non rent-seeking) reason to introduce incompatibilities.
As an obvious example - there's absolutely no reason for wheel rims to have incompatible bolt patterns. Encourage manufacturers to standardize, at least at the interconnect points, and it opens the doors for both competition and economies of scale to drive down component costs, generating substantial real wealth in the process.
(Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday June 26 2022, @03:34PM (2 children)
> there's absolutely no reason for wheel rims to have incompatible bolt patterns.
there's absolutely no reason for wheel rims to have incompatible bolt patterns--on cars of similar weight and weight distribution, with similar wheel offsets.
ftfy
For example, the old Toyota Matrix I inherited is based on the Corolla platform. The Matrix is taller, the center of gravity is higher, so when it turns, there is more weight transfer on the outside wheels. The Matrix has a larger bolt circle than the Corolla.
(Score: 2) by Immerman on Monday June 27 2022, @03:58AM (1 child)
So look at it the other way around - What does the Corolla gain by having a smaller bolt circle, rather than using the same sturdier arrangement as the Toyota? A few bucks less manufacturing cost maybe? I bet you more than that would be saved in economies of scale.
I can see your point for commercial and industrial vehicles, which come in a huge range of sizes and loadings - but I'd be willing to bet that one, *maybe* two, sizes of bolt-circles would serve all consumer vehicles with minimal operational penalties. And there's no reason at all for slightly different number of bolts - e.g. make everything 6 bolts, and the ultra-light, budget, NEVs, K-cars, etc. can still use only three.
Similarly, I seriously doubt there's a good reason for having dozens of slightly different sized consumer tires - encourage manufacturers to adopt them in 2- or 4-inch increments and nothing of value would be lost, while the improvements in compatibility and mass-production would generate real wealth and convenience.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday June 27 2022, @05:43PM
Unsprung mass has significant effects on handling - larger heavier hubs and wheels on the Corolla will have some effect on handling, fuel efficiency and tire life spans. Worsening those three aspects of a much more popular car so it has a bolt pattern (and maybe tires) that matches the less popular Matrix seems like a huge hit for overall efficiency of the system as a whole.