General R2RC Facts
- Are there other websites supporting this cause?
- Does this problem only affect the UK?
- How can we become involved?
- What are the aims of R2RC?
- What is Block Exemption?
- What is FIGIEFA?
- What is the R2RC Strategy Group and what does it do?
- What is the Right to Repair Campaign?
- What is the ‘Motor Industry Block Exemption’?
- What will be the consequences of failure?
- Who are the members of R2RC Strategy Group?
- Who is funding the activity of R2RC?
- Why is it important to the consumer that R2RC succeeds?
- Why is it important to the economy that R2RC succeeds?
- Why is it important to the environment that R2RC succeeds?
- Why is it important to the independent repair industry that R2RC succeeds?
Are there other websites supporting this cause?
Yes. There are R2RC websites, such as the main European site (http://www.r2rc.eu), and if you look in our links section , many other companies have sections and articles supporting the R2RC plight.
In fact, the European R2RC website, have prepared their own FAQ document. Click here to view.
useful 
not usefulDoes this problem only affect the UK?
No! This campaign is Pan-European campaign, administered by FIGIEFA (the international federation and political representative of the independent distributors of automotive replacement parts. 28 national trade associations from 22 countries are members of FIGIEFA).
Whilst FIGIEFA, is responsible for the European campaign, this problem affects the whole of the automotive aftermarket on a worlwide basis.
This is the American site: www.righttorepair.org
useful not usefulHow can we become involved?
By;
- contributing to the funding of the campaign
- distributing campaign material to your customers
- writing to your MP in support of the campaign
- keeping your local newspapers informed of the campaign’s obectives
useful not usefulWhat are the aims of R2RC?
The main aim of R2RC is to safeguard the independent aftermarket’s right of access to technical information needed for the service and repair of motor vehicles. This also includes the right to the codes needed to allow a vehicle to be re-commissioned after service or repair.
useful not usefulWhat is Block Exemption?
‘Block exemption’ is a way of allowing the EC to exempt an industry or a part of an industry from the competition requirements of the Treaty of Rome. An exemption is allowed if the Commission is persuaded that there is a consumer protection reason for easing the rules or if the consumer will benefit in other ways.
useful not usefulWhat is FIGIEFA?
FIGIEFA is the International Federation of Automotive Aftermarket Distributors – the European-level trade association for the independent aftermarket. It is located in Brussels.
useful not usefulWhat is the R2RC Strategy Group and what does it do?
The R2RC Strategy Group is a group of aftermarket specialists, set up to organise and oversee the activity needed in the UK to support FIGIEFA’s activity in Brussels. They are also responsible for obtaining support for the campaign from companies, associations and groups operating in the independent aftermarket.
useful not usefulWhat is the Right to Repair Campaign?
‘The Right to Repair Campaign’ (or ‘R2RC’) is the short description of a number of activities which the independent aftermarket must undertake during the review of the Block Exemption Regulation to protect its position.
Its starting point is that the Regulation provides substantial benefits to the independent aftermarket, which must be preserved. However, some parts of it have not worked as well as they should (e.g those concerning the availability of technical information). Also, technical developments, particularly the increasing use of electronic control units, have created problems for which the Regulation does not provide a clear answer.
The campaign is being organised by FIGIEFA.
useful not usefulWhat is the ‘Motor Industry Block Exemption’?
The motor industry has had its own block exemption for many years. It covers ‘the ‘purchase, sale or re-sale of new motor vehicles, spare parts for motor vehicles or repair and maintenance services for motor vehicles.’
The Regulation also allows independents to obtain from vehicle manufacturers technical information required for the service or repair of their vehicles.
Block exemption applies to all motor vehicles with three or more road wheels – so vans, trucks, buses, coaches and motorhomes are all included, as well as cars.
‘The Block Exemption Regulation’ is properly described as ‘Commission Regulation No 1400/2002 of 31 July, 2002 on the application of Article 81(3) of the Treaty to categories of vertical agreements and concerted practices in the motor vehicle sector’.
This Regulation expires in 2010. Its operation will be reviewed during 2008, after which the Commission will say if it proposes to renew the Regulation (with or without changes) for a further period.
useful not usefulWhat will be the consequences of failure?
The position of the vehicle manufacturers’ networks will be strengthened and the independents will lose business because they will be unable to service, repair or re-commission vehicles. At the least, the competition between the independents and the manufacturers’ networks will be weakened.
useful not usefulWho are the members of R2RC Strategy Group?
The R2RC Strategy Group consists of
| Jim Mazza (Chairman) | Managing Director, GAU UK and Ireland |
| Adrian Wilkes | representing the Federation of Engine Re-manufacturers |
| David White | representing the National Tyre Distributors’ Association |
| David Russell | representing the Automotive Distribution Federation |
| Lawrence Bleasdale | representing the SMMT Aftermarket Section |
| Nevelle Marchent | representing the Garage Equipment Association |
| Peter Coombes | Managing Director Sykes-Pickavant Ltd |
| Jonas Zambakides | representing the Independent Garage Association. |
useful not usefulWho is funding the activity of R2RC?
Funding for R2RC is provided from many sectors of the independent aftermarket – for instance, independent garages, manufacturers and distributors of replacement parts, specialist retailers, engine re-manufacturers, tyre distributors, fast-fit operators.
Companies and associations are also helping by providing expertise in producing campaign material.
useful not usefulWhy is it important to the consumer that R2RC succeeds?
It’s important to the consumer that R2RC succeeds because this will ensure continued competition between the independent aftermarket and vehicle manufacturers’ networks, retaining the consumer’s choice of where to take his/her vehicle for service or repair.
useful not usefulWhy is it important to the economy that R2RC succeeds?
Independent garages and repairers create jobs. Their existence guarantees competition in the service and repair market, improving the efficiency of the sector.
useful not usefulWhy is it important to the environment that R2RC succeeds?
Vehicles have to comply with ever-tighter environmental requirements. If R2RC fails, the number of independent garages and repairers will reduce. Increasing numbers of vehicle owners will have to rely on vehicle manufacturers’ networks. These outlets will be more expensive than the independents, so owners will delay service work as long as they can, with the risk that environmental systems will, at best, deteriorate and, at worst, fail.
useful not usefulWhy is it important to the independent repair industry that R2RC succeeds?
Without guaranteed access to technical information, and especially to the codes needed to allow re-commissioning of vehicles, independent repairers will be unable to provide the service which vehicle owners want and will lose customers.
useful not useful