NTDA Backs ‘Right to Repair’ Campaign with Brityrex Seminar

According to a press release distributed by Brityrex and the NTDA, the retail tyre industry is putting its weight behind an aftermarket campaign to highlight restrictive and anti-competitive practices by vehicle manufacturers, which, according to the NTDA, the tyre industry believes is preventing members from servicing and repairing some newer car models.

National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA) director Richard Edy has confirmed that the association’s business seminar at the Brityrex International tyre show in May will focus on the ‘Right to Repair’ campaign currently being promoted by the Automotive Aftermarket Liaison Group.

“Despite the promise of a level playing field as a result of Block Exemption legislation, the independent aftermarket, including the tyre and fast fit sector, is still being deliberately and systematically excluded from parts of the repair market,” said Mr Edy. “We believe this is unfair, anti-competitive and possibly illegal, so we are joining with colleagues from the Automotive Aftermarket Liaison Group to bring the matter to wider political and public attention.”

The seminar is designed to inform NTDA members about the campaign’s latest developments and will include keynote presentations from Mike Owen, director of the RMI Independent Garage Association and Dave Garratt, director of the Garage Equipment Association.

A speaker from FIGEIFA, the International Federation of Automotive Aftermarket Distributors, will also provide an international perspective of the situation. The seminar will be chaired by NTDA vice chairman David White the National Council representative for Kwik-Fit.