NEWS The rules governing competition in the vehicle repair market are set to change on Thursday 1 June, with the UK-derived Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Order (MVBEO) replacing the EU Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation (MV-BER). The views of the sector had been sought by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which ran a consultation on the draft guidance to the MV-BEO. This closed on Tuesday 16 May. The IGA was one of a number of sector organisations that submitted a consultation response, as IGA Head of Member Services Frank Harvey noted: “The new MV-BEO, proposed by the CMA is very much in line with the original MV-BER but has been updated to accommodate some of the technological changes in modern motor vehicles. “In the first round of the consultation, the IGA highlighted several areas where we thought the Order could be improved, including stronger guidance for motorists saying they have the right to take their vehicle to an independent repairer without invalidating the warranty, along with the need for a system for vetted independent operators to access security-related information for repairs. We have welcomed the steps the CMA has taken in this direction. They provided some clarity on the topic of consumer choice by asking manufacturers and approved repairers to make it clear in any warranty documentation that vehicle owners can choose to use independents for servicing and non-warranty repairs. “For independents, the MV-BEO Guidance Document specifies that vehicle manufactures should make technical information, in all its formats, available to independent operators within the same timescale that it is make available to its authorised repairers. The MVBEO lays out that any software or activations codes required must also be available. However, there is a caveat that says security-related data can be ringfenced from this requirement. The MV-BEO also sets out guidance on parts supply and in particular what first-tier parts suppliers can and cannot expect in terms of protection to enable them to supply matchingquality parts to the automotive aftermarket.” There is some room for improvement though, as Frank observed: “The draft MV-BEO has followed the EU in adding access to vehicle data, training and tooling into the Block Exemption rules. However, it falls short of clarifying the situation in relation to connected cars and the direct communications the vehicle manufacturers enjoy with vehicle end users via the human machine interface (HMI) of the connected car and the potential this has for influencing customer choice. The IGA has raised these points as well.” Frank added: “We have also welcomed the clear statement in the guidance that independent operators should be able to access data generated by the vehicle such as fault codes and other in-vehicle data. This provides an element of future-proofing should in-vehicle data be required as part of the MOT at some point in the future, as was hinted at in the recent consultation from the DfT on changes to the MOT.” The MV-BEO will not be the end of the story as IAAF Chief Executive Mark Field observed: “The legislation supports independent operators in the automotive aftermarket, and is complemented by the vehicle Type Approval regulations that include the detailed repair and maintenance (RMI) requirements. However, since the previous MV-BER and Type Approval RMI legislation have been in place, vehicle design and technology has changed significantly and has led to not only the vehicle manufacturers entering the aftermarket as service providers in their own right, but with the vehicle manufacturer controlling the remote access to their vehicles. Existing business models have significantly evolved, and new business models are being implemented.” Mark added: “Today’s vehicles are highly sophisticated and contain new systems and interfaces that are used to access the vehicle, its resources, functions and data. This also creates the need to have cyber-secure vehicles, but legislation must ensure that this is not used by vehicle manufacturers to impose a monopoly to control all aspects of the diagnosis, service and repair of the vehicle.“ www.aftermarketonline.net 4 AFTERMARKET JUNE 2023 www.aftermarketonline.net MV-BEO to become law IGA unveils EV fault-finding course The IGA has launched a new one-day practical fault-finding course for EVs. The course, backed-up by the Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Repair Alliance (HEVRA) will be available at various RMI training locations, with the first course planned for June. Topics covered include common faults in the inverters, interlock circuits, DC – DC Convertors and charging circuits, and will look at contactor issues. IGA Chief Executive Stuart James noted: “Members have said that even with a Level 3 qualification, their technicians often don’t feel confident to move into diagnostics of the high voltage EV systems. This new course, designed with the support of the experts at HEVRA, is another positive step forward to supporting the independent garage community.” Technicians will need to be qualified to a minimum of HEV Level 3 prior to attending. The course is open to non-members, but IGA members will benefit from a preferential rate. For more on training, turn to pages 60-62.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ0NzM=