The fact that your local mechanic can't repair things like they used to is not necessarily because the manufacturer elected to write complicated code. It's the

The fact that your local mechanic can't repair things like they used to is not necessarily because the manufacturer elected to write complicated code. It's the environmental regulations that play a huge part in necessitating the hardware (and sometimes software) technology. Much of the technology is needed to get the vehicle within compliance of emissions regulations. Such technology doesn't come cheap -- and is increasingly complex, which necessitates the need for specialized skills and tools to deal with. This is not the type of thing manufacturers can just choose to shortcut, at least not if they want to sell their vehicles in certain countries.