15th May 2024
Today’s decision from the Regional Court of Cologne re-affirms the principles established by the European Court of Justice (“ECJ”) on 5 October, 2023, in the matter of Secure Gateways. The ruling reinforces the importance of a fair and level playing field in the automotive aftermarket and the benefits this brings to consumers. Independent service providers are key in driving competition and providing consumer choice, and today’s decision will ensure this remains the case.
Certain aftermarket services, including recalibration of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (“ADAS”) following windscreen replacement or solving problems indicated by a warning lamp, require access to a car data stream. Some vehicle manufacturers are increasingly obstructing access, creating technical hurdles and requiring payment of licence fees. This adds unnecessary cost and affects free competition in the aftermarket and consumers’ freedom of choice, and can lead to higher prices for consumers.
While Belron fully acknowledges the need for vehicle manufacturers to be able to address cybersecurity on vehicles, this must be in line with the principles of openness and ensuring a level playing field highlighted by the ECJ. Belron is committed to continued engagement with all relevant stakeholders, including vehicle manufacturers and the European Commission, on how to best move forward in a way that does not compromise these fundamentals.
Carlos Brito, CEO of Belron*, commented:
“We welcome today’s decision by the Regional Court of Cologne, which builds on the principles set out by the ECJ in October.
Access to a vehicle’s data stream via the OBD port is essential to workshops all across Europe, and today’s ruling protects the ability for independent service providers to continue working without incurring unwanted hindrance or costs. This is a principle that Belron will continue championing.
“At the same time, we remain committed to working constructively with all vehicle manufacturers and the European Commission to ensure that consumers continue to benefit from the competition provided by the independent aftermarket.”
-Ends –
Notes to the editor
Carglass®, the vehicle glass repair specialists, and ATU, Germany’s largest chain of auto repair shops, originally raised this issue with Regional Court of Cologne in a case against Fiat Chrysler (FCA Italy SpA – “FCA”, now Stellantis Europe SpA – “Stellantis”). As the case involved the interpretation of EU Regulation, the Regional Court of Cologne referred the case to the ECJ, which on 5 October 2023 ruled in favour of Carglass and ATU. You may read more about the case here.
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FGS Global belron-lon@fgsglobal.com
About Belron
Belron is the world’s leading vehicle glass repair, replacement, and recalibration group. Our key brands include Carglass®, Safelite® Autoglass and AutoGlass®. We operate in 40 countries across 6 continents through wholly owned and franchise operations and also manage vehicle glass and other insurance claims on behalf of insurance customers. Belron is home to around 30,000 employees who delivered 15.8 million jobs for our customers in 2023 with a focus on service quality generating a very high level of customer satisfaction. More details are at https://www.belron.com/.
About Carglass
Carglass® Germany is a specialist in the repair and replacement of new vehicle glass. In Germany, Carglass® employs around 2,300 people, including more than 1,600 technicians in the 370 branches. Around 180 employees work in the customer contact centre. The company processes around 1.4 million customer contacts per year and helps drivers throughout Germany, whether stationary or on the move, with more than 240 mobile units. The company has been part of the international Belron family since 1990 and has been operating as Carglass GmbH since 1993.
*Belron is the parent company of Carglass® Germany