Inside the Right to Repair Movement
Kathleen Long, Chief Revenue Officer at RepairPal, joins Bryan Haakenson to break down the impact of Right to Repair legislation on the auto industry. With more than a decade of experience in her current role, Kathleen explains how rapidly advancing vehicle technology has outpaced regulation and what that means for consumers, repair shops, and manufacturers. She also highlights how modern vehicles operate as rolling computers and why access to diagnostic and repair data has become such a critical issue.The conversation also explores the real-world effects of restricted repair access, from higher costs and longer wait times to limited consumer choice. Kathleen shares insight into how independent shops and local economies are impacted while also addressing the balance between protecting manufacturer innovation and ensuring fair competition. Together, they discuss the momentum behind bipartisan legislation and what meaningful change could look like for everyday drivers.In her role, Kathleen leads all partner and shop initiatives, including business development and strategy, operations, marketing, and customer success. She takes pride in standing for ethical principles and being a female executive in a male-dominated industry.
