Suppliers win with new EU rules - International Trends - European Union rules should help auto parts suppliers - Brief Article

Automotive Industries, Jan, 2002 by Andrea Wielgat

FRANKFURT -- Suppliers will benefit most from new European Union auto-selling rules set to be unveiled this month. The European Commission is expected to partially end the "block exemption." Current regulations, which expire in September, grant block exemption to antitrust rules present in other industries.

Automakers are expected to have to free-up exclusive dealerships and parts distribution, cutting into profits. Suppliers, meanwhile, will see increased profitability as the middle-man is cut out and the OEM dealer network opened.