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Commission launches public consultation on antitrust rules for motor vehicle sector

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The European Commission has launched a public consultation inviting all interested parties to express their views on the functioning of the competition rules applicable to vertical agreements in the automotive sector. These rules include the Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation (‘MVBER') and the Supplementary Guidelines (‘SGL'), both as amended in April 2023, as well as the Vertical Block Exemption Regulation (‘VBER') and the Guidelines on vertical restraints, as far as they apply to the automotive sector.

The public consultation is part of the ongoing evaluation of the MVBER and the SGL launched on 18 January 2024. These rules, which assist companies in the automotive sector in assessing the compatibility of their vertical agreements with Article 101(1) of the Treaty on the functioning of the European Union (‘TFEU'), are currently set to expire on 31 May 2028. All interested parties can submit their comments by 7 May 2025.

In parallel, the Commission launched on 30 January 2025 the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of the Automotive Industry. The Commission will soon present an Action Plan which will address issues relevant for the automotive sector, such as ensuring access to talent and resources, technological innovation and the development of next-generation vehicles, and establishing a predictable regulatory framework. The MVBER evaluation complements these efforts by ensuring a competitive automotive aftermarket.

Clean, Just and Competitive Transition Executive Vice President Teresa Ribera (pictured) said: “With this evaluation, we want to make sure that our antitrust framework keeps pace with the rapid changes in the motor vehicle market, ranging from digitalization to new mobility patterns. As part of the evaluation, it is essential to draw on the experiences of various stakeholders — from manufacturers to independent repairers — to have rules that continue to foster innovation and safeguard fair competition in sales, repair and maintenance of motor vehicles.”

A press release is available online.

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