European Commission confirms continued need for aftermarket competition rules

The European Commission has published its evaluation of the Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation (MVBER) and its Supplementary Guidelines, concluding that the sector-specific competition framework for the automotive aftermarket remains relevant and continues to play an important role in protecting competition.

The evaluation assessed the effectiveness of the rules between 2021 and 2025 and examined whether they remain fit for purpose in a rapidly changing automotive sector.

According to the Commission, the MVBER and its Supplementary Guidelines have helped provide legal certainty, supported consistent enforcement across the EU, and safeguarded competition in key areas of the automotive aftermarket.

The Commission recognises that independent operators continue to face significant challenges in accessing essential inputs needed to compete effectively. These include access to spare parts, technical information, diagnostic tools and vehicle-generated data.

The evaluation highlights that the growing digitalisation and electrification of vehicles are creating new risks of market foreclosure for independent repairers and spare parts suppliers.

The report further notes that modern vehicle repair increasingly depends on access to digital functions, diagnostic data and parts coding systems, areas where vehicle manufacturers often maintain a structural advantage.

As vehicles become more connected and software-driven, ensuring fair access to these resources is becoming increasingly important for preserving competition, innovation and consumer choice in the aftermarket.

A key finding of the evaluation is that continued and effective enforcement of competition law remains essential. The Commission stresses the importance of ensuring that digitalisation and electrification do not become tools for restricting independent market access and limiting consumer choice.

It also acknowledges the need for sector-specific guidance alongside broader legislation such as the Data Act and Type-Approval framework.

Commenting on the findings, Andy Hamilton, president and executive managing director of LKQ Europe, said: “For Europe’s workshops, this affects whether technicians can complete repairs efficiently, retain work and offer motorists a genuine choice.

“As vehicles become more connected, electrified and software-driven, the competition framework must keep pace. Independent workshops must be able to invest, innovate and compete on fair terms. That is essential for a strong European aftermarket and affordable mobility.”