New cars that are too expensive, too technological and costly to repair, overpriced tolls, insurance that is only going up: in all this slump, here is some (small) good news on the side of body parts with the end of the manufacturers’ monopoly.
We told you this a long time ago, but as the French administration is a machine with high inertia, everything is done in stages and it is better to be patient. The liberalization of the market for so-called “visible” parts (bodywork, mirrors, etc.) is finally set in stone in France, an anomaly while other neighboring countries have long opened the floodgates. Europe has therefore decided to harmonize all of this. Until now, when you had a bodywork repair, the obligatory route was to contact the manufacturer who was the only one who could supply you with the part (apart from second-hand parts). With prices often very high, monopoly requires. But this will end… gradually.
The first in 2024, the last in 2032
All new models registered in intellectual property in 2024 will be directly on the free body parts market. Good news, therefore, for your future bills. But for all vehicles registered before 2024, it is more complicated. Liberalization will ultimately take place over a period of 8 years (it was announced 10 years at the origin of the amendment)which means that the last car models to benefit from cheaper body parts will finally be released… in 2032.
In any case, you can say thank you to Europe since the liberalization comes from a clause harmonized at the continental level, following the decision of the European Council. The whole difficulty of the case was to overcome the manufacturers’ argument, which was to say that the “visible” parts fell within the intellectual property rights. A visibly abusive right that has finally come to an end.
And good news doesn’t always come alone: the factories that make the reproduction parts and the distributors that sell them will be protected, and above all will not have to “prove that their products are used exclusively for repairs” according to the FEDAthus protecting them from possible disputes triggered by manufacturers. The market should therefore be completely free and this should quickly bear fruit, both for those who repair their vehicle by paying for parts, as well as for the rest of motorists. In fact, cheaper body parts and a competitive market will make it possible to reduce repair quotes and therefore… insurance premiums. If and only if one of the intermediaries (bodybuilders, experts, insurers) does not take advantage of it to inflate the margins.
