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CMS BFL supported the Mobivia Group, Midas and Norauto

10/10/2012


CMS Bureau Francis Lefebvre supported the Mobivia Group, Midas and Norauto during the French Competition Authority’s investigation of the automobile maintenance and repair market.

CMS Bureau Francis Lefebvre announced today that it had supported the Mobivia Group and two of its automotive maintenance and repair brands (Midas and Norauto) during the investigation of the automobile maintenance and repair market conducted by the French Competition Authority, which published its findings on 8 October 2012.

During the investigation, which lasted more than one year, the Authority closely examined competitive practices in the automobile maintenance and repair markets and in the manufacture and distribution of spare parts. Its highly detailed opinion, totalling more than 200 pages, contains a number of recommendations intended to revitalize the sector and ensure healthy, fair completion among automotive companies and their dealers on the one hand and independent dealers on the other. (Link to the press release on the investigation: http://bit.ly/RsVkNa)

These recommendations focus on five areas:

  • Gradually opening to competition the automotive companies’ monopoly on so-called “visible” spare parts, such as optical components, rear view mirrors, bumpers and exterior parts.
  • Enabling equipment manufacturers to market replacement parts more freely.
  • More effectively monitoring compliance with regulations designed to ensure that independent dealers have access to carmaker technical data.
  • Making sure that standard and extended warranty contracts are clearly and explicitly written.
  • Ensuring that the publication of suggested retail prices in the sector does not limit competition among operators.

Claire Vannini, an attorney on the CMS Bureau Francis Lefebvre European Law team, supported Mobivia Group, Midas and Norauto throughout the investigation.


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Claire Vannini
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