ST. LOUIS — The Assn. of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) joined the Equipment Dealers Assn. (EDA) in making a joint industry commitment to provide comprehensive service information tools to end users of farm equipment for tractors and combines in model year 2021.
EDA and AEM’s Ag Sector Board debuted a Statement of Principles that affirms the industry’s joint commitment to providing the tools farmers and ranchers need to minimize downtime and maximize productivity of farm equipment.
The Statement of Principles makes so-called “Right to Repair” legislation sought by special interest groups unnecessary.
Manufacturers will make available through authorized dealers the following diagnostic and repair information beginning with tractors and combines put into service on or after Jan. 1, 2021:
- Manuals (operator, parts, service)
- Product guides
- Product service demonstrations, training, seminars or clinics
- Fleet management information
- On-board diagnostics via diagnostics port or wireless interface
- Electronic field diagnostic service tools, and training on how to use them
- Other publications with information on service, parts, operation, and safety
In conjunction with the Statement of Principles, AEM and EDA also launched a new website – www.R2Rsolutions.org – to provide additional resources to learn about the commitment. The website features a short video that visually explains the Statement of Principles in greater detail. These tools will be used in communications activities with state lawmakers in the coming months.
“Equipment manufacturers are proud to act decisively to provide our customers with commonsense solutions they have asked for to easily make simple repairs to their tractors or combines, or assess when to involve a dealer,” said AEM President Dennis Slater. “This strikes the right balance in the way ‘Right to Repair’ legislation would not.”
“Manufacturers and dealers invest considerable resources in making sure their customers have what they need to be successful.” said EDA President Kim Rominger. “This commitment by our industry is a market solution to a market need. Dealers and manufacturers will ensure that end users have the tools they need to perform maintenance and basic repairs on their equipment and to allow them to quickly identify more serious issues which require the assistance of a dealer. Simply put, our industry commitment is to ensure that folks have the “right to repair” while continuing to work against attempts to improperly modify equipment so as to compromise safety and emissions features.”
Manufacturers and dealers have opposed Right to Repair proposals in various state legislatures because of concerns that the broad terms of those proposals would risk machinery’s compliance with safety and environmental regulations, and undercut the investments manufacturers make in developing onboard software. AEM and EDA will continue to oppose overly-broad legislation that would grant access to source code onboard farm equipment.
Many manufacturers are already making service information available to customers, or will do so soon. The Statement of Principles is intended to go above and beyond to provide a baseline industry commitment of service information for customers.
