Car owners set to benfit from eu changes 28/5/2010, By Press Association
NEW LEGISLATION from the European Union may make it cheaper for new car owners to get their vehicles serviced and maintained, the Financial Times newspaper has reported.
New rules due to be implemented from June will prevent manufacturers from demanding that car owners used authorised workshops or risk voiding the vehicle warranty.
EU officials told the Financial Times that they expect this to result in cheaper vehicle maintenance for owners.
With repair bills amounting to an estimated 40 per cent of a vehicle's running costs, car owners are likely to benefit from the changes to vehicle manufacturer's 'block exemption', which has allowed car makers to keep a tight grip on who can offer parts and services for their vehicles. Competition rules prevent this from happening in most European industries.
From June, 'block exemption' will know longer apply to authorised repair networks with a market share of 30 per cent or more.
NEW LEGISLATION from the European Union may make it cheaper for new car owners to get their vehicles serviced and maintained, the Financial Times newspaper has reported.
New rules due to be implemented from June will prevent manufacturers from demanding that car owners used authorised workshops or risk voiding the vehicle warranty.
EU officials told the Financial Times that they expect this to result in cheaper vehicle maintenance for owners.
With repair bills amounting to an estimated 40 per cent of a vehicle's running costs, car owners are likely to benefit from the changes to vehicle manufacturer's 'block exemption', which has allowed car makers to keep a tight grip on who can offer parts and services for their vehicles. Competition rules prevent this from happening in most European industries.
From June, 'block exemption' will know longer apply to authorised repair networks with a market share of 30 per cent or more.
