Not true. That ended when block exemption was scrapped. Honest.
http://www.filmtvdir.com/2003/car/news/blockexemption.htmhttp://www.filmtvdir.com/2003/car/news/blockexemption.htm
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At the block exemption conference held this year in Solihull, the body responsible for putting the case and lobbying the European Commission on behalf of the aftermarket - the Brussels-based Comité de Liaison de la Distribution Indépendante de Pièces de Rechange et Equipements pour Automobiles (CLEDIPA) - announced that the demise of block exemption would affect the aftermarket in the following ways:
· Dealers would be free to buy original and matching-quality spare parts from wherever they choose i.e. independent parts distributors such as Waterloo.
· Parts manufacturers can brand their own products, rather than car manufacturers buying the parts and putting on their own branding e.g. Ferodo rather than Ford.
· Independent distributors could sell their products as original spares or matching-quality spare parts
· Vehicle owners would be free to take their cars wherever they choose for warranty work and warranties would not be dependent on where the car was serviced
· Independent allmakes garages would have available to them, technical information from carmakers.
Breach of these regulations has already resulted in court action in 28 cases against car manufacturers and it is already illegal for car manufacturers to state in their manuals that vehicles should be taken to the main dealer for servicing"