Motor vehicle distribution and after-sales agreements are currently subject to Commission Regulation (EU) No 461/2010 (the "Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation", MVBER). It mandates the Commission to draw up an evaluation report on its operation by 31 May 2021, in view of its expiry on 31 May 2023.
The Commission has therefore opened a public consultation inviting comments from stakeholders in order to assess whether and to what extent the objectives of the Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation are fulfilled.
Based on the Commission's experience, the stakeholder groups interested in the evaluation process are:
(i) undertakings with business operations in the EU motor vehicle sector, notably vehicle manufacturers and dealers, spare parts manufacturers and distributors (authorised and independent), and repairers (authorised and independent),
(ii) associations thereof,
(iii) consumer organisations, as well as
(iv) academics with a focus on EU competition law and notably on the motor vehicle sector.
Further to the above, the process will be open to any other stakeholder with a possible interest therein.
Stakeholders can submit their views by filling an online questionnaire by 25 January 2021.