erWin Limiting Access to Business Users in the UK?

[RGH0]

Also, there has been absolutely zero specific information as to why VW/erWin is going this route. This may very well be related to other things, not comparable to the situation in Australia. Anything ranging from online shop legal requirements to buyer protection etc. and just from these two points, any B2C sale is just so much less hassle these days. So what about either figuring out what the true (and confirmed!) reasons are here or play this a little on the down low 'til then.

Yes it would be nice if VW fully explained publicly their reasons would it not ? if other companies you referenced and VW can sell the same information through different channels but at a much higher price then they need to be able to justify this action versus selling direct to private individuals at a reasonable price comparable to purchasing a hardcopy repair workshop manual in previous times.

What I do know is that if VW does not provide repair information at a reasonable cost to individuals then illegal pirate copies will begin to be sold on the internet and VW will not be able to stop it no matter how many lawyers they have

 

[Sebastian]

Just no. No business is required to communicate the reasoning for their business decisions and this applies to VW as well as all other vehicle manufacturers. Yes, they have to abide by the laws of each sales region but as long as they do, their decision concerns are none of your business - unless they choose to share that.

The technical infrastructure for erWin is run by/outsourced to Arvato, support is outsourced to dx.one. Yes, in the name of Volkswagen but the general concept already shows that there is an intermediary. What we may be seeing here is the shift to different intermediaries for private individuals while business access will be untouched. This may be as simple as private individuals causing too much support vs. the access fee based covered costs.

Pirated copies are already easily available and many people have used them for years. Yes, I do agree that raising the access threshold will have an effect but let's not make this more than it is. The absolute majority of users for this access are not private individuals and for the proportionally small amount of users, this shift to a different intermediary might just do. Heck, in the US Bentley Publishers was THE intermediary for a really long time until VW cancelled their contract. Where was the outrage there?

Now if want to actually understand the reasoning, we should look at other vehicle manufacturer and their repair & maintenance related resources. Will the go a similar route or not? Will they limit access to some material instead of all of it? If they don't change anything the entire grievance with governmental / regulatory changes is simply mood.

Let me be clear, I am not a fan of this in any shape or form and believe that it's a move that will not help the brand with private individuals wanting to maintain their cars, but I also believe that this isn't the big thing some here are making from this.

 

[RGH0]

So if someone else was going to take up reasonably priced provision of repair data to individuals don]t you think VW would have announced that plan rather than just cutting of the service with no explanation

Your right companies are not obligate by law to explain many of their business decisions but there are also many they do have to communicate when it comes to material impact of stock valuation . Also right to repair laws in certain places and countries may require VW to explain this.

However any company with morals and ethics will be open with the public with something like this that affects the public individuals that buy its cars and use its services as these people are its source of revenue to VW and repair businesses. But I guess we know where VW stands as a company in terms of openness don't we.

The made some great cars and its a pity they are so arrogant towards their own customers

 

[MasterTommy]

Got the same email in The Netherlands. My first question would be what VAG’s definition of a business would be concerning access.

 

[TTT]

One which has BTW number and KvK registration.

I believe going electric, vw does not want to give repair information for the untrained. Less legal headaches.

 

[Crasher]

Sounds similar to the TPS story; https://tps.trade/ a supplier of VW group parts that used to happily supply parts to anyone but recently changed their policy that they now only supply to the trade meaning, you have to buy your parts from the dealer at a higher price and maybe have to wait a day for them to get it from TPS.

I don’t think the prices would be different, when TPS supplied retail customers they still paid the list price. Did you know that TPS are allowed to supply individual taxi drivers? There are comments I could make… Dealing with TPS as a trader does have one huge drawback, if you have a problem with a part costing more than around £125, the warranty claim process is appalling and simply not fit for purpose.

 

[HxK]

I might be wrong but I believe all UK users had to be business registered (sole or LTD) in order to be given access to GeKo? Unless elsewhere other importers allowed individuals to access ODIS Online

 

[RGH0]

Erwin access used to be separate from GeKo / ODIS

 

[Dr Sheldon]

and believe that it's a move that will not help the brand with private individuals wanting to maintain their cars, but I also believe that this isn't the big thing some here are making from this.

I will not affect VAG one little bit !!

It wont affect the DIY Self helper either !!

With or without Erwin, evidence is right here, they cannot fix cars !!


How many threads here, out of a thousand, get the RESOLVED badge !!


They all have VCDS which does everything it should do. What about all the other tools required for test, measurement, evaluation and emulation ???

How many, out of a thousand, have an incandescent test light ??


The "Snap On" tool truck is promoting Digital Test Lights, i dont see the ones with a bulb on there !! They sell thousands to "thousands" of Idiots calling themselves "techs" - This is true ?

 

[Crasher]

One tool company tried to sell me a short circuit diagnostic kit, it was a box of resettable fuses... I bought them anyway as they would be quite useful but in no way are they a diagnostic tool.

 

[Sebastian]

Unclear if this is really related... Kinda doubt that because of this, but it's a possibility...