“Repair Clause” amendment in Design Directive postponed

Publication date: 25 June 2004

Steps to amend the Design Directive 98/71/EC with a “Repairs clause” that would safeguard the rights of the parts producers and operators to operate alongside the car manufacturers have again been postponed. The “Repairs Clause” supported by Commissioner Bolkestein seeks to help to create a single market for body-integrated (visible) spare parts like body panels, lighting and automotive glass.

A “repairs clause” incorporated into EU legislation is already long overdue. Since 1998 many member states have introduced it in national design legislation. Without the inclusion of such an amendment in the Design Directive, motoring consumers, members of AIT & FIA clubs everywhere will have their freedom of choice regarding the purchase of  vehicle spare parts severely limited (i.e. to vehicle manufacturers original spare parts only). Moreover, the parts in question are those most frequently damaged in accidents and thus the most frequently replaced. AIT & FIA as members of ECAR support Commissioner Bolkestein’s initiative and call for more rapid progress in its adoption (see news release).
ecar_press_release_22604.pdf (22 KB)