* the model was setup while the auto makers were substantially smaller. GM / Ford couldn't hope to control the entire supply chain in the 1930s like they can now. These pre-existing businesses are able to protect their interests.

* Early cars had massive defect rates compared to modern consumer electronics. You HAD to be able to have a large number of people able to repair and maintain cars.

* Due to the value of cars, a higher proportion of damage is likely to be considered repairable over a CE device.

* Many auto parts were simpler when the model setup. Many parts did not have extensive IP protections, and were relatively easily clone-able. (i.e. you can make a mould of a part and cast other copies). Not to mention, outside a few halo proprietary technologies, companies were less litigious and protective of IP.

* Commercial operators such as Taxi and corporate fleets mean that there was a market for these 3rd party products, enough to cover R&D costs of cloning an existing part.

I think we need to enforce a compulsory licensing of IP for all parts, chips, etc after a period of non-availability or obsolescence. Price should be set at a point where 3rd party companies come in and produce generic versions, paying royalties to the owner. Allow these 3rd parties to reverse engineer the products and sell their clones if there is truly a market need.

What will likely happen is that the companies would rather license their designs to a chosen partner, in the hope of having more control over it

Now, they want to do it even quicker.

DRMed autoparts are a new craze. A tsunami of them is coming in 2021+ cars.

They all now want to do the the John Deere trick. They gave the industry a very bad example to follow.

I can't go into more detail than that.

Well, I can think of at least one easy way to avoid that problem. If you document your hardware and put a leash on your lawyers, you'll find that your customers and their independent service organizations will be glad to take on this responsibility for you.