WASHINGTON, June 21 (Reuters) - A group of 17 Democratic U.S. lawmakers on Wednesday urged the Federal Trade Commission to finalize new consumer protections for car buyers despite objections from auto dealers who argue the rules would actually raise the cost of buying a car.
They argued that "unfair and deceptive practices involving motor vehicle dealers have widespread consequences."
The lawmakers said the FTC should require dealers to provide a legally enforceable "Offering Price" "that includes all pre-installed and mandatory add-on products" and finalize regulations prohibiting specific misrepresentations, among other reforms.
The FTC wants to ban fees for add-on products and services that provide no consumer benefits like "nitrogen-filled" tires that contain no more nitrogen than normal air.
"Dealers also pack vehicle sales with mandatory and price-inflated add-ons, increasing the cost and creating further confusion and uncertainty about a vehicle’s ultimate price," the lawmakers wrote.
Persons:
Ed Markey, Ron Wyden, Cory Booker, Brian Schatz, Elizabeth Warren, Richard Blumenthal, Pramila Jayapal, David Shepardson, Chris Reese, David Gregorio, Leslie Adler
Organizations:
Democratic U.S, Wednesday, Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Reuters, National Automobile Dealers Association, Center for Automotive Research, Alliance, Automotive Innovation, General Motors, Toyota, Volkswagen, Thomson