ECAR renews call for EC "Repairs Clause"

29 January 2009
by eub2 -- last modified 29 January 2009

The European Campaign for the Freedom of the Automotive Parts and Repair Market (ECAR) has written to the EU Czech Presidency to express its strong support for the European Commission's proposal of a Repairs Clause that liberalises the market in automotive spare parts.

ECAR argues that the Repairs Clause is a well thought-out and balanced solution to the spare parts issue. It
gives full protection to vehicle manufacturers' new car "designs" but prevents a spare parts monopoly. The
free and competitive single market that would be created as a result of the Repairs Clause would ensure
freedom of choice and competitive prices for consumers. It would also prevent small independent
companies, such as parts producers, distributors and repairers, from being driven out of the market and
stimulate market efficiency and employment in the EU.
 
"A crucial point for the liberalisation of the market in visible automotive spare parts has been reached", said
Louis Shakinovsky, ECAR's Chairman. "Many Member States have already enacted a Repairs Clause and
liberalised their markets. The responsibility now rests with the blocking minority of Member States to adopt
the Commission's Repairs Clause to strengthen the rights of 270 million EU motorists in the Community as a
whole."
 
ECAR would like to urge the Council to resume the discussions on this issue under the Czech presidency.

Background
Since 1991 the EU has been discussing the automotive  spare parts issue without reaching agreement. Car manufacturers claim that the protection of their new cars' body "design" should also be extended to the pertinent spare parts – such as bumpers, wings, bonnets, lamps or windscreens. The purpose of design law is to protect the appearance or visible form of a product, not the product itself. If the design right of the car manufacturer is extended to the corresponding spare parts, competition will be eliminated from the spare parts market. ECAR promotes free competition in the automotive spare parts market. 

Established in 1993, the European Campaign for the Freedom of the Automotive Parts and Repair Market (ECAR) is an alliance of 10 independent EU organisations representing vehicle parts producers, distributors, independent repairers, the European motor insurance industry, a large cross section of small and medium-sized enterprises as well as the 260 million motoring consumers in the European Union.

European Campaign for the Freedom of the Automotive Parts and Repair Market (ECAR)