I thought Nate might have been a little hyperbolic during some of his interviews with regard to how bad automakers are. I just watched Louis Rossmann's video today (10/7/25) where he's talking about automakers and data breaches. He exposed that automakers are paying for billboard trucks to be placed around DC to lobby against, and essentially misrepresent, small mechanics by opposing the right to repair laws that have been proposed. Whenever I've had dealers do work on my vehicles, they overcharge and the work is sloppy...consistently. I had a trans fluid and filter done several years ago and they gave me the truck back several quarts low. I had a work truck with a bad blower motor and they didn't fix it right and I had to redo it myself a week later (which I should have done in the first place, but live and learn). Every time I go into a dealership they have asked for personal info which can be leaked or sold. Small mechanics don't do that BS. Yet the automakers are spending lots of money to slander them. It makes me angry seeing these tactics. What's worse is it will probably work in their favor, which means it will work against the consumer and small mechanics. Totally disgusting.
I have seen similar things at dealerships. Sadly feels like an uphill battle and consumers just continue to lose control or the ability to help themselves. The automakers have already built massive moats to prevent competition with regard to sales, now they are doing it with repair. Data and software are already in the works.
I spoke to a manager at a local Cadillac dealer last year, he said everything in their cars will be subscription services in the future, including things like heated/cooled seats etc. It's really getting out of control.
This might end up backfiring because they are taking it so far, mechanics are already leaving or gone already (the good ones), so dealers are struggling to find anyone competent to work as flat rate techs. It's going to be interesting to see how it all shakes out.
