EU to act on OE parts
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• Truck spares are set to become cheaper next July when a new EU regulation prohibits truck manufacturers from forcing dealers to use OE parts.
Karel Van Miert, the European Commissioner for competition, says: "More and more manufacturers buy parts from component makers and just stick their brand on." Cutting out the middleman should reduce the price of parts, he believes.
The new rules will also force manufacturers to give independent workshops all relevant
information to help them carry out repairs. There are limits to this, however, as manufacturers will be entitled to protect their "intellectual property" and trade secrets.
The International Road Transport Union welcomes the move: "The lorry market was already quite flexible but this will make things even better," it says.
The European Commission predicts that the rules will lead to an "improved market access for component manufacturers and for independent repairers".