Urgent action needed to renew and modernise UK block exemption, IAAF warns

Evidence being gathered to show vehicle manufacturers and dealer networks to be misinterpreting current rules

Urgent action needed to renew and modernise UK block exemption, IAAF warns
Image: Bigstock.

The Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) has announced that it is “intensifying” its lobbying efforts through UK AFCAR – a new UK automotive lobbying group comprising automotive trade associations and commercial organisations to renew and modernise the UK’s Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulations (MVBER) in-line with technical and digital enhancements within the modern motor vehicle.

It follows news that the European Commission plans to extend MVBER until 2028 – the UK version expires in May 2023.

In a statement on its website, the IAAF said: “The most recent discussions with the UK government have shown good intent in some areas, but poor levels of understanding and mis-guided considerations in others.

“There also appears to be constraints on the government’s departmental resources, together with their priorities.

“This is rapidly becoming a critical issue for the UK aftermarket, both for the time-critical issues of MVBER, which is set to expire in May 2023, but also for the rapid developments of vehicle technology, cybersecurity and the increasing actions of the vehicle manufacturers to thwart competition in the UK aftermarket.”

Evidence is currently being collected by UK AFCAR which shows vehicle manufacturers and their authorised networks to be ‘misinterpreting’ current MVBER.

Opinion: Customer attitudes to repairs and maintenance are changing for the better

In recent months it has received information on the prevention of access to technical information for independent garages, and also an unwillingness to investigate customer issues, once the vehicle has been worked on by the independent aftermarket within the warranty period.

The latest IAAF statement adds: “The actions to address these issues need to be a ‘top down’ approach and we cannot assume that the UK government is sufficiently aware of the benefits provided by the independent UK aftermarket, together with the practical (i.e. technical) details that are required to allow effective implementation of the legislative requirements.

“These practical details are reaching a more mature level of legislative proposal in Brussels, but in the UK little, if anything, is yet being considered.

“Time is of the essence and urgent action is needed to avoid further delays in supporting the UK government to understand the concerns and needs of the UK aftermarket and the important role it plays in the UK’s societal and economic position, today and in the future.”

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3 Comments

  1. Great, need to get this OBD port locking sorted.

    It’s your car (or customers) and after you brought it, only dealership can
    Do stuff with it, wrong on every level

    You buy a £700 bicycle from Halfrauds & needs special tool to remove
    Wheels to fix punture, you cant buy or make the tool, Halfrauds say
    £200 each punture repair, what you going to do!

    Like wise, set your Apple device location to France, as french sued apple
    On slowing devices down & set to France it doesn’t.

    So should be law, free reflash so any garage/ person can do anything

    Like Mercedes not selling lock kits, supply and fit only

    Reply
  2. As a dealer we spend thousands of pounds each year on auto issue special tools and tech/updates along with fee’s set by the manufacturer for technical cover, training etc, just to open the doors and represent the manufacturer. An independent can open with minimal investment in comparison and work on the same vehicles, then moan if the dealers do not “answer technical questions” for them. They also cream off the basic work then direct the customer to the dealer when there is a possible warranty issue so the dealer has to repair, generally at a financial loss.

    Reply
  3. You would be surprised at the amount of kit as an independent we have for everything scanners special tool s for timing belt s etc scanners we have at least 8 some are obsolete now but still work

    Reply

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