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ARTICLE · 15 JUNE 2023

Recent Competition Law Developments Affecting The UK And EU Automotive Aftermarket Sector

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP
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Companies should be aware of two important recent developments regarding competition law exemptions for vertical agreements...

United KingdomAntitrust/Competition Law
Veronica Roberts
Veronica Roberts
Kyriakos Fountoukakos
Kyriakos Fountoukakos
Roddy Martin
Roddy Martin
Ruth Allen
Ruth Allen

Companies should be aware of two important recent developments regarding competition law exemptions for vertical agreements:

  • On 1 June 2023 the UK Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Order (MVBEO) entered into force. This replaces the EU Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation (MVBER), which had continued to apply in the UK post-Brexit as retained EU law. The MVBEO, which will be in force until 31 May 2029, will ensure the continuation in the UK of an important automatic exemption from the prohibition on anti-competitive arrangements in respect of vertical agreements which meet certain conditions in respect of:
    • the purchase, sale or resale of "aftermarket goods" for vehicles (including spare parts); and

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