Car Parts Monopoly Bill Defeated

The North Dakota House voted 74-to-22 Wednesday to reject the bill that, in its original form, would have created a car manufacturer monopoly on auto repair parts and higher costs for consumers.

“The [National Association of Independent Insurers], our member companies, other insurers and competitive replacement parts vendors sent a unified message to the public and to the Legislature that SB 2358 was bad for consumers as well as North Dakota’s economy. The resounding House vote against the bill shows lawmakers clearly heard us,” said Laura Kotelman, NAII counsel. “Car manufacturers attempted to masquerade the bill as pro-consumer.

“In reality, it was an anti-competition bill that would only have benefited large auto makers and the body shops that would have profited from using more expensive OEM parts,” Kotelman continued.”Consumers would have footed the bill through an increase in auto insurance premiums of up to 15 percent, without added benefit in car repair safety or quality.”