PRESS RELEASE
European Council for Motor Trades and Repairs
Conseil européen du Commerce et de la Réparation Automobiles
Europäischer Verband des Kraftfahrzeuggewerbes
Brussels – 15 May 2014
Commission’s draft CARS 2020 report envisages legal
framework for dealer-manufacturer relations
Today, members of the CARS 2020 Sherpa Group discussed their final report outlining
the key strategic orientations for the European automotive industry in the future.
Throughout the CARS 2020 process, CECRA has tried to reach an agreement with vehicle
manufacturers on a voluntary Code of Conduct covering vertical relations in the automotive
sector. This approach was supported by the European Parliament, which adopted a report at
the end of last year stressing “the need for the Member States to ensure greater transparency
and compliance with the principles of good faith in commercial relations between manufacturers
and dealers”.
The Parliament’s report, drafted by MEP Franck Proust, made it clear that better relations
between dealers and manufacturers could be achieved through “the introduction of a code of
conduct” which “should at least include clauses relating to dealer relocation, multi-branding
and compensation entitlement for unjustified termination of the contract by the manufacturer
in line with the supplementary guidelines contained in Commission Notice 2010/C 138/05”.
However, despite numerous discussions and the strong support of various stakeholders, this
‘soft-law’ approach has not been successful. Therefore, the final report discussed today by the
CARS 2020 Sherpa Group highlights the necessity of finding a legally-binding solution in case
no consensus is reached on a voluntary Code of Conduct. The current wording of the report
stipulates that, if no voluntary solution is found, “the Commission intends to initiate a
legislative procedure aimed at the development of a legal framework, which will
regulate relations between different actors of the automotive sector”.
CECRA, together with its European Car Dealers (ECD) division, welcomes this clear statement
from the Commission.
For more information, please contact Bernard Lycke, General Director
T:+32 2 771 96 56 @: [email protected]
CECRA, established in 1983, is the European federation bringing together 25
national professional associations, which represent the interests of motor trade
and repair businesses, and 12 European Dealer Councils. CECRA represents more
than 380,000 automotive enterprises in the EU, including approximately 120,000
authorised dealers and repairers and 260,000 independent repairers. Together
they employ around 2.8 million people.
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Tel: (+32) 2 771.96.56 - Fax: (+32) 2 772.65.67 - E-mail : [email protected] - http://www.CECRA.eu