WASHINGTON – Harley-Davidson and a Westinghouse generator maker have agreed to fall some limits on who repairs their products and solutions, the U.S. Federal Trade Fee claimed on Thursday.
The company voted final year to make it a precedence to drive makers to end requiring consumers to use accredited sellers to repair items ranging from smartphones to farm gear. Critics say the practice raises prices for shoppers and shuts out independent restore outlets.
The FTC mentioned in its criticism towards Harley-Davidson, which was unveiled at the same time as the consent settlement, that it had objected to language employed by the motorcycle maker these types of as “the use of parts and assistance techniques other than Harley-Davidson accredited sections and assistance strategies may possibly void the confined warranty.”
Beneath the agreement, Harley-Davidson agreed that it would not void warranties due to the fact the consumer utilised third-occasion parts or unauthorized assistance facilities.
Outside generator maker MWE Investments, aspect of Westinghouse Electric Corp, built a very similar settlement with the FTC.
Proper-to-fix was component of a sweeping executive buy that President Joe Biden signed previous summer months aimed at promoting a lot more competitiveness in the financial state. The get resolved grievances as disparate as non-compete clauses in worker contracts and higher charges for listening to aids. read additional
Neither Harley-Davidson nor Westinghouse immediately responded to a request for comment.