A UK government department has intervened to limit the strict requirements Audi places on its authorised repairers.
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The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) on Friday said its moves would improve competition in the servicing and repair of Audi cars and followed a complaint about the automaker’s UK unit’s authorised repairer standards.
“In accordance with the EU Motor Vehicles Block Exemption Regulation (BER), Audi UK’s new standards now mean that authorised repairers have greater flexibility in meeting staffing requirements where they can demonstrate that work can be carried out more efficiently to meet the level of service expected by Audi’s customers,” the department said in a statement.
Requirements to dedicate an area for the servicing and repair of Audi vehicles and to display Audi corporate signage in those areas have also been removed.
In addition, the standards also make it clear that there is no obligation for staff employed by an authorised repairer in a multi franchise environment to attend Audi training unless they are engaged in the Audi part of the business and that workshop facilities, equipment or staff can be used to service or repair other brands of cars.
The OFT noted that the BER for motor vehicles exists to provide greater competition in new car sales, as well as the servicing and repair of all cars and supply of spare parts.
Audi UK’s authorised network services and repairs over 45% of Audi cars, and the UK market for the repair and maintenance of Audi motor vehicles is estimated to be in excess of GBP250m, the department added.
But OFT nonetheless had kind words for Audi.
Director Christiane Kent said: “We welcome Audi UK’s positive response to ensure compliance with BER and this will ultimately produce benefits for consumers and authorised repairers as costs associated with repairer standards are reduced.”
