The European wide, Right to Repair Campaign (R2RC), which aims to maintain free market conditions in the independent automotive sector, has launched a new on-line petition. The R2RC is an important lobbying body, which has helped to lift restriction in the automotive aftermarket and has been particularly active in changing block exemption regulations.

The campaign is at present engaged on a number of fronts, protecting the interests of independent garages and parts suppliers at EU decision-making level. In particular it is currently focusing on issues such as; the renewal of the block exemption regulations, vehicle and component type-approval legislation and access to technical information for repairers and equipment and parts suppliers.  The efforts of the R2RC mean, for example, that the right to car manufacturer technical information now forms part of EU vehicle type approval legislation for all future models.

The campaign’s major aim at present is to ensure the renewal of block exemption regulations. Block exemption regulation 1400/2002, has controlled competition in the distribution of new vehicles and in the automotive aftermarket, to the benefit of consumers since 2002. It has opened up many opportunities for the independent sector and brought fairer competition with the franchised sector. This important piece of legislation will expire in May 2010 and its renewal has become more uncertain in recent months. The campaign organisers are thus calling on the support of the independent automotive sector, right across Europe and is encouraging those involved in the independent aftermarket, to register their support by signing the R2RC Europe-wide on-line petition at www.r2rc.eu.