We were already going in that direction, but perhaps EVs will push us over the edge. Tesla has certainly made it damn near impossible to work on their cars.
Between the need for expensive training and diagnostic equipment, and the ever-widening view of things that are .gov mandated and covered under smog or safety laws including spare parts sourcing, we are largely there.
I'll counter. In a world of electric cars (which I'm in favor of), how long until the politically well-connected emissions testing industry becomes repurposed into mandatory safety inspections at the same or higher price?
