EC Car spare parts liberalisation proposals adopted

Publication date: 14 September 2004

Frits Bolkestein presented EC proposals to modify the Design Directive in order to liberalise the spare part market for car repairs to the European Parliament following a strong show of support from the College of European Commissioners in their favour. The adopted proposals are good news for spare parts manufacturers, for competition in the car repairs market and also for consumer choice. The proposals aim to allow independent parts manufacturers compete with vehicle manufactures in the production of visible must-match replacement parts which form the “skin” of a vehicle and which are the most likely to be damaged in an accident: bumpers, bonnets, doors, lamps, windscreens and wings. This market is worth about 10billion Euro annually. It is expected that competition will have the effect of greater price competition and choice for consumers. It has been seen already that where the spare parts in question are design protected they are 6-10% more expensive.

The proposals will now be considered by the European Parliament and Council (co-decision procedure) with a view to adopting a Directive in the next 18 months. It seems that member states will have up to two years to transpose the Directive following adoption and thus revise their existing nation design protection regimes.

AIT & FIA as members of the European Campaign for the Freedom of the Automotive Parts and Repair Market (ECAR), welcome the Commission’s proposals as a strong signal in favour of competition and consumer choice for motorists.

For more information:
- Commission Press Release (IP/04/1101)
- Communication of Commissioner Bolkestein to the European Parliament (Speech/04/397)
- Frequently asked Questions (Memo/04/215)

ip041101.pdf (70 KB)

speech04_397.pdf (63 KB)

memo04215.pdf (115 KB)