Cars and computers

My friend came around to our house yesterday and asked me to help him fix his car. As we struggled to fit the front light back on it occurred to me that if he had a more modern car we probably would be able to fix the car without a computer programme.

Today the local news leads on the story that the legislation that compels the manufacturers to provide the independent garages with the technical information they need, is being reviewed and may be withdrawn.

Now this is bad news, particularly for our local garages who provide a great service to us car owners who oddly are not to keen about paying over the odds for our car to be looked at. It will hit not only local jobs but local subsidiary jobs in the parts industry at a time when things are bad for them anyway.

For the car manufacturers I am sure they will talk loftily about intellectual rights and business confidentiality they may also throw in the odd “health and safety” argument.

But my local garage tells me that the software they sell to the garages cost thousands and they are forever upgrading which demands even more money. On top of this if the car maker falls out with a franchise dealer will they stop selling upgrades to them?

…. And if this does happen will future cars come with a government warning ?
We will have to see