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.

IAAF and FIGIEFA welcomes the publication as an important milestone and a solid basis for the next stage of discussions. The findings reflect many of the concerns raised by independent aftermarket stakeholders throughout the evaluation process and support the case for maintaining dedicated competition rules for the automotive sector. FIGIEFA will continue engaging with the European Commission and other policymakers to advocate for the extension and modernisation of the current framework, ensuring that competition, innovation and consumer choice remain at the heart of Europe’s automotive aftermarket.