Brussels, 25 June 2026
The EU Commission has today published a staff working document presenting the results of its evaluation of the Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation (‘MVBER’) and its Supplementary Guidelines (‘SGL’).
The MVBER exempts certain vertical agreements in motor vehicle aftermarkets from the prohibition laid down in Article 101(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). The SGL provide guidance on the application of EU competition rules to common aftermarket practices and on the distribution of new motor vehicles. Together, these rules safeguard effective competition in motor vehicle aftermarkets, notably between independent repairers and authorised networks, supporting consumer choice and competitive prices.
In line with Better Regulation principles, the Commission assessed whether the MVBER and SGL are fit for purpose in light of developments in the automotive sector. The evaluation drew on stakeholder consultations, exchanges with Member States’ Competition authorities, a dedicated study by the Commission’s Joint Research Centre, and additional external expertise.
The staff working document concludes that the MVBER and SGL have broadly met their objectives and continue to provide useful guidance to stakeholders. The framework has helped preserve competition between vehicle manufacturers, support cross-border trade, and maintain the role of independent repairers and spare parts suppliers alongside authorised networks. At the same time, it identifies challenges linked to increasing digitalisation and electrification, in particular difficulties faced by independent operators in accessing technical information and vehicle-generated data.
The evaluation provides a basis for the Commission’s policy reflections on the future MVBER framework.
Source – EU Commission