Leon Andriessen is the new EGEA President

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Dutchman Leon Andriessen is the new President of the European Garage Equipment Association (EGEA). The EGEA General Assembly elected Andriessen to head the association on September 9, 2024 in Frankfurt. He has been involved in the association’s political work at the European level for many years. He has already been the president of EGEA in the past. In recent years, Leon Andriessen has been overseeing the EGEA’s finances as treasurer. Andriessen is a founder of TBA & TEN, Technisch Bureau Andriessen & Test Equipment Nederland. His company was established on the 1st of August 1978. He officially retired on the 1st of January 2021 but is still active in his company, run now by his son Patrick. Andriessen is the representative of the Dutch trade association RAI in the EGEA.

The President is supported by the Vice Presidents Rafal Sosnowski from the Polish association STM, Julian Woods from the British association GEA and the new Treasurer Thierry Coton from the French association GIEG, who were also newly elected in Frankfurt.

Experienced board team guarantees continuity

There was also a change in the Executive Board. The Executive Board, which manages the business of the EGEA together with the Presidium and Secretary General Marcin Barankiewicz, now includes three other members in addition to the Presidents. For the next two years, these will be Frank Beaujean (ASA Federal Association, Germany), Jaume Berenguer Baques (AFIBA, Spain) and Federica Ventura (AICA, Italy).

With the exception of Federica Ventura from AICA, the successor to Massimo Brunamonti, who has retired, the EGEA Board has been working together in its current composition since 2018. “I am delighted to have been elected EGEA President. I am confident that with the proven and strong team on the Board, we will be able to set an important course for the future of the workshop equipment industry in Europe over the next two years through the EGEA,” says EGEA President Leon Andriessen.

Challenges threaten the European economy, the automotive sector and the IAM

Andriessen made it clear that he would continue the course set by his predecessor in the presidency, Frank Beaujean. The issue of data access for the independent aftermarket is an absolute priority, he said “The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has announced that the priority in the new term of office of the Commission under her leadership will be to maintain the competitiveness of the European economy. We will judge her by her actions. The independent aftermarket is unanimous in its opinion that one of the elements with which this goal can be achieved is regulating access to the data generated by vehicles. The industry has long been calling for sectoral solutions in this area and points out that the Data Act is too general and does not take into account the specifics of the automotive industry,” said Andriessen.

EGEA is covering the interests of all the market stakeholders, not only the big ones, but also the small and mid-sized companies.  In this matter, access to increasingly digitalized and networked vehicle data infrastructures is of existential importance for the entire Independent Aftermarket (IAM).

Revitalizing working groups and finding new members

Another goal of the new EGEA President: “I want to strengthen the working groups within the EGEA and create new ones.” To do this, the EGEA needs the committed cooperation of member companies from all national associations. “Only if we know the needs and requirements can we bundle these as the EGEA at European level and represent them in the relevant committees in a targeted manner,” says Andriessen. The Executive Committee and Board have identified electromobility as a key future topic for the European workshop equipment industry, which will have a major impact on the automotive industry in the future despite all the teething troubles. The same applies to all topics relating to digitalization and artificial intelligence.

President Andriessen would therefore also like to attract new members to the EGEA in order to tackle the wide range of tasks. “Having a strong organization that represents interests at European level is vital for the industry. Regulations are being created in Brussels and Strasbourg that will later affect the work of all member companies in all national associations. If we have the opportunity to make our views clear and contribute our technical expertise at an early stage, all workshop equipment suppliers in Europe will benefit,” says Andriessen.

Goal: World association of workshop equipment suppliers.

At an international level, the association wants to further promote both the AFCAR (Alliance for the Freedom of Car Repair in Europe) and the “Associations in Motion” project. The long-term goal of this project is to establish a global association of workshop equipment manufacturers.

Marcin Barankiewicz is the new EGEA Secretary General

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Marcin Barankiewicz (42) from Poland will coordinate the work of the European Garage Equipment Association (EGEA) and its 11 national member associations from the beginning of April 2024.

“We are delighted to have found in Marcin Barankiewicz a worthy and comparably well-qualified successor to Jordi Brunet Garcia. Jordi has done outstanding work for the European workshop equipment industry since taking office in December 2019,” says current EGEA President Frank Beaujean. Senior engineer Jordi Brunet Garcia from Barcelona is returning to the workshop equipment industry at his own request at the end of March. He will be training his successor in Brussels in the coming weeks.

Marcin Barankiewicz has many years of experience in the automotive industry and is familiar with all issues relating to periodic technical inspections (PTI) thanks to his work as a specialist in organizational and legal issues at the Polish Chamber of Motor Vehicle Inspection Bodies. He has been Chairman of the Board of the Chamber since June 2020.  Thanks to his professional experience and his degree from the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Warsaw, as well as postgraduate studies at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Lazarski University, Barankiewicz is ideally qualified for the tasks in Brussels. In his work in Poland, he has represented entrepreneurs who operate PTI stations and diagnostic specialists who carry out technical tests. Among other things, he was responsible for contact with representatives of the government, parliament, public administration and other organizations, associations and institutions in the automotive industry. In his role, he prepared statements and position papers on issues important to the PTI industry and was actively involved in legislative processes. “It is a stroke of luck for EGEA members that Marcin Barankiewicz complements his extensive legal background with equally sound practical knowledge. After all, he is a lawyer and trained automotive technician,” says Beaujean.

Forward-looking projects await

Numerous and difficult tasks await the new EGEA Secretary General. First and foremost, the ongoin revision of the Roadworthiness Package by the European Commission , to adapt the vehicle inspection to the latest technologies. The issue of fair and equal access to technical data and information, which is vital for the independent aftermarket (IAM), is also high on the agenda. This includes the enforcement of the ECJ ruling of October 5, 2023 on the admissibility of secure gateways (SGW) for access to vehicle data from OBD interfaces. “We are also eagerly awaiting the discussions on the introduction of a sector-specific regulation for access to data, resources and functions of connected vehicles. These will form the basis for completely new business models in the aftermarket in the future. I look forward to being able to support the EGEA and its members with my expertise on these forward-looking topics,” says Marcin Barankiewicz.

The European Garage Equipment Association Joins the Global Right to Repair Movement for Vehicles

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Automotive Aftermarket Releases Best Practice Guidelines for Legislators

BRUSSELS – March 09, 2023 – EGEA has joined other global association leaders to support the critical global right to repair movement by signing the new right to repair position statement. The statement enumerates the core beliefs of the movement and the objectives and intended outcomes of right to repair legislation. Importantly, the document sets forth 10 best practice principles to developing a framework for right to repair legislation that any supporting country can use and adapt them to their needs.

Globally, the automotive aftermarket keeps 1.5 billion vehicles on the road while contributing $1.8 trillion to the global economy. After vehicles exit their warranty period, independent repair shops perform 70% of repairs. This vibrant industry and the consumer choice that it creates is being threatened by automotive manufacturers that block access to wirelessly transmitted vehicle repair and maintenance data.

Without the convenience and choice of independent parts and repair, especially in suburban and rural communities, consumers will have limited access to affordable vehicle service and repair. These restrictions can have catastrophic effects on local economies and the well-being and safety of millions that rely on vehicle transportation daily.

In Europe, the automotive retail and service sector employs more than 4.5 million people, in more than 500,000 companies, mostly SMEs, and services approximately 400,000,000 vehicles in circulation. The total revenue of the European vehicle aftermarket was estimated to be around €400 billion in 2020, with a steady growth rate of around 3% per year. This revenue includes sales of spare parts, accessories, and services provided by workshops.

Frank Beaujean, president of EGEA said:

“The right to repair is essential for our industry and our customers. It promotes healthy competition and supports sustainability. We must advocate for this right and work with policymakers to protect it.”

Both Australia and South Africa have successfully retained their drivers’ right to repair their vehicles.  These countries are a model for similar legislation in Europe that levels the playing field and keeps the consumer at the heart of decision-making across the transportation ecosystem.

Read the full position statement here.

Organizations interested in supporting the right to repair vehicles of all classes can contact sg@egea-association.eu to join the global movement.

Release the handbrake!
End delays to legislative proposal on access to in-vehicle data and unleash
Europe’s data-driven mobility markets

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A vast majority of the automotive and mobility services ecosystem together with consumers
urge the European Commission to urgently propose an effective sector-specific legislation on
access to in-vehicle data

Brussels, 24 January 2023

The Independent Service Providers (ISPs) grouping have written to President von der Leyen and the
relevant College of Commissioners to put an end to the repeated delays in proposing legislation on access
to in-vehicle data, functions and resources. Doing so would unleash the untapped potential to create real
competition in Europe’s data-driven automotive and mobility markets.
The ISP Group commented:
“The Commission committed to bringing forward access to in-vehicle data legislation in December
2020 by the end of 2021. We’re now in 2023 and the proposal has been delayed yet again. Despite
six years of painstaking Commission evidence-gathering and previous strategic policy plans, the vast
majority of the sector are left in limbo and investment decisions are delayed in the face of substantial
market barriers that benefit just one segment of a potentially huge market.
We urge the Commission President to get this process back on track. This legislation is vital to unblock
the automotive and mobility services sector market. Almost every European uses some form of
mobility every day and they should be able to enjoy the benefits of data-driven innovation, choice
and affordability in the automotive and mobility ecosystem. Today they can’t. The Commission must
rectify this.”
The Commission has a rich history of market-enabling legislation from telecoms to aviation, rail and
energy. The recent series of legislative measures part of the European Data Strategy addresses significant
market distortions that will enable a more vibrant and competitive European Internet economy that is not
captive to a few dominant players. Yet, it seems completely anomalous that, despite all the evidence
gathered over the last six years, the European automotive and mobility ecosystem continues to face all
the same market barriers and distortions that the EU itself has addressed in the wider EU Data Strategy
series of regulations for the Internet economy, including the increasing dependency on the technology
platforms of the hyperscalers.
The undersigned associations urge the Commission to get the regulatory process for a sector-specific
regulation on ‘access to in-vehicle data & resources’ back on track immediately so that there is time for
the co-legislators to scrutinise and adopt the text before the end of the Parliamentary term in May 2024.

Background
The Independent Service Providers (ISPs) grouping represents a wide range of operators in the European
automotive aftermarket and mobility service providers who are investing in the development of digitalised
services and data-driven innovation. However, the ISPs are currently hampered by the restricted access
to data that stems from the privileged access by-design system built into the car that confers a dominant
position and competitive advantage to the vehicle manufacturers. This deprives the European mobility
consumer and business user of greater choice through innovation and affordable mobility and aftermarket
services. This, in turn, jeopardises European competitiveness and other political objectives, such as
greater access to safer, smarter and more sustainable mobility services.
Digital services in vehicles and everyday mobility are rich in potential and can actively support and
accelerate the whole EU Sustainable and Smart Mobility agenda. However, they are developing more
slowly than they should in Europe because up until now, vehicle manufacturers have privileged control
of the data generated by the vehicles they sell – but do not own – to the detriment of the vehicle owner.
This advantage is compounded by the increasing dependency on the technology platforms of the
hyperscalers. Such platforms are regulated by the EU Data Strategy series of regulations for the
mainstream Internet economy, but not in the vehicle, despite their rapidly growing role in this sector in
partnership with vehicle manufacturers.

European Commission’s proposal for Data Act welcomed,
but robust automotive-specific legislation urgently required

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Brussels, 23 February 2022 – A broad coalition representing a wide range of major automotive aftermarket stakeholders, as well as operators in the mobility services value chain, consumers, the insurance and the tyre industries welcomes today’s publication of the proposal by the European Commission for a European Union’s Data Act.
The Data Act lays down important principles. It establishes an important right for users to access the data generated through their use of connected products, and to assign rights of access to the data to a third-party service provider of their choice. Also, aftermarket repair and maintenance services and access to diagnostics information are explicitly included. Other important provisions include the manufacturer’s obligations to make the data transparent and “easily accessible” to the user, restrictions on the manufacturer to monitor the activities of the user or third-party and on compensation for the costs of making data available, particularly for SMEs.
However, while the coalition recognises the Data Act represents a relevant step forward towards the development of the European Data Economy, it strongly believes that the Data Act will not be sufficient by itself in the automotive sector. The ecosystem needs sector-specific automotive legislation translating the principles and provisions of the Data Act into concrete, legal and technical measures for the automotive sector. Also, certain aspects of the Data Act require more clarity for the automotive sector, as they currently leave too much room for interpretation, creating legal uncertainty and a high risk of litigation. Only a dedicated piece of legislation will provide the confidence and incentive independent service providers require to invest in new data driven services, which will benefit consumers and the whole society by providing smarter, safer and more sustainable mobility solutions.
Aside from the explicit user consent for access to data, third-party service providers require stand-alone access rights to the information and resources that are essential to develop competing services. Under the Data Act approach, all these service providers would however only get a derived right, which completely neglects that these parties need, in the first instance, to know and test in advance what data and functions are in principle available and will be at their disposal. Therefore, only an autonomous and stand-alone access right to the tools and resources required to develop the means of access will enable the independent service providers to develop competing digital services in advance so that these can be offered, marketed and advertised to the consumers or other data co-generators. Access rights must be backed by proper means to exert them.
Furthermore, five years of wide-ranging evidence-gathering by the European Commission with the contribution from stakeholders of the ecosystem, have underlined that, whilst the use cases for vehicle-generated data are potentially limitless, they are entirely dependent on efficient access to in-vehicle data and resources.
The coalition therefore calls on the European Commission to swiftly propose robust sector-specific legislation on access to in-vehicle data and resources so that co-decision procedure can proceed as from October 2022 and be completed before the end of this parliamentary term in April 2024.

Secure On-board Telematics Platform Approach

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Creating a level playing field for vehicle data access in the interest of consumers:

Brussels, 30 March 2021 – A large coalition representing automotive dealers, aftermarket and consumers is calling on the European Union to take on board its proposal for a Secure On-board Telematics Platform (S-OTP) when legislating on access to in-vehicle data. In the detailed document, “Creating a level playing field for vehicle data access: Secure On-board Telematics Platform Approach”, publishers of technical information, body repairers, dealers and workshops, garage equipment suppliers, tyre manufacturers, road patrols, parts distributors and leasing and rental companies, as well as consumers, provide technical and commercial arguments sustaining their recommendation.


It is a solution guaranteeing true consumer choice, effective competition and free entrepreneurship in a secure and technology-neutral manner.


With the advent of the connected car, competition now starts in the vehicle where the ability to safely and securely access in-vehicle data, functions and resources determines the quality of the service. The intention of the S-OTP is therefore to ensure that consumers can still choose and rely on service providers, many of them SMEs, to benefit from innovative, competitive and affordable services and products, improving road mobility, safety and sustainability. To do so, service providers have to be able to compete with all mobility stakeholders, some of whom might be tempted to act as “gatekeepers” through proprietary access methods to in-vehicle data.
As a solution addressing the challenges of true consumer choice, security and free entrepreneurship in the automotive services sector, the S-OTP is based on some key characteristics, such as:
• Consumer is in full control regarding the access to in-vehicle data;
• A clear separation of duties, with free management of access control for all service providers, including vehicle manufacturers;
• Unmonitored and undistorted communication between in-vehicle services and their respective back ends;
• Independent customer contract/direct consent management and service offering without the interposition of the vehicle manufacturer;
• Standardised access to in-vehicle networks via safe and secure software interfaces enabling bi-directional communication with the vehicle;
• The ability to safely interact with the driver through the vehicles human-machine interfaces.

Enabling effective competition in the automotive aftermarket, the S-OTP would benefit consumers and society at large, by:
• Empowering consumers by ensuring their rights on privacy and widening their choice of service providers;
• Boosting innovation and facilitating the digital transformation of mobility and the deployment of a digital ecosystem of services;
• Contributing to the European Union’s path to become a frontrunner in connected and autonomous mobility and related services.


The S-OTP concept is in line with the European institutions’ ambitious goals to foster innovation and legislate in a way that works for the modern economy. The initial concept has been enriched to take into account the increased (cyber-)security requirements, by including certification of service providers and a robust approach to the development of secure applications, which consumers and operators can choose to install in their vehicles.


The coalition of associations has fed this concept into the study conducted by TRL on behalf of the European Commission, and invite the European legislators to take into account this detailed and complete solution (which enables consumers, vehicles and independent businesses to go smarter, safer, greener) when assessing legislative options.

Netherlands to start particulate measuring on 1 July 2022

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On 1 July 2022, the Netherlands will be the first country in Europe to start mandatory particle measurement for diesel cars Commercial vehicles and trucks. The Dutch government had already adopted a particle measurement procedure at the end of 2020, but now also within the PTI.

Diesel passenger cars must have a manufacturer-mounted particulate filter from 2011 to meet European emission requirements. For diesel delivery vehicles this will apply from 2012. It is now estimated that there are between 100,000 and 125,000 diesel cars in the Netherlands that are subject to the PTI and cannot pass the test because the particulate filter is defective or has been removed. As a result, they emit more particulate matter than is legally permitted.

Originally, the measurement procedure was to start on 1 January 2022 as part of the periodic technical vehicle inspection. The transitional period for the introduction of the procedure has been extended by six months. In addition, the permissible particulate limit value for diesel vehicles first registered in 2015 has been raised from 250,000 ppm to 1,000,000. The responsible ministry justified the increase by stating that the aim of the particle measurement procedure is to detect and remove from circulation primarily diesel vehicles with manipulated/dismantled particle filters. RAI association https://www.raivereniging.nl/ section manager Martijn van Eikenhorst welcomes the introduction of particle filter retesting under the PTI from July 2022. “Measuring is knowing. And in this way, we ensure that not only new cars, but also the driving fleet remains as clean as possible. This is an important step towards a healthy mobility system.”  

Besides the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany are also preparing a particle measurement procedure for diesel vehicles. In Germany, it was originally planned to start particle measurement as part of the periodic technical vehicle inspection on 1 January 2021. This plan failed in practice due to the timely definition of an agreed test procedure by the responsible authorities and the responsible Federal Ministry of Transport in Berlin. Questions regarding the calibration and verification of the systems and procedures have also remained unresolved in Germany to date, despite intensive support from experts in the workshop equipment industry and the ASA Federal Association. Experts do not expect a particle measurement procedure to be launched in Germany before January 2023.

In the EGEA, there will be an exchange of experiences and developments around particle measurement in the working groups in the future and the know-how will be accessible to all eleven national associations within the EGEA. “Of course, we will also share our knowledge with those responsible in European politics and, where desired, we will be happy to provide technical advice with our experts,” concluded Jordi Brunet, Secretary General of the EGEA in Brussels.  

FOR A RESILIENT AUTOMOTIVE AFTERMARKET ENSURING SUSTAINABLE EUROPEAN MOBILITY

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12 measures for the recovery and post-COVID-19 period

Brussels, 17th of June 2020 – Six associations representing different sectors of the automotive servicing and mobility value chain, which brings together more than 500.000 SMEs and 4,3 million jobs, as well as the umbrella association of European SMEs, have published today a set of 12 measures for the recovery and post-COVID-19 period.


This essential sector has been severely affected by the COVID-19 crisis and its economic and social consequences, putting the prosperous development of companies and of jobs is at risk. In order to allow a swift relaunch of the automotive aftermarket and assist the European Union’s institutions in identifying the appropriate measures on the recovery path, the signatories representing different sectors of the automotive/mobility value chain have prepared a set of 12 detailed recommendations.


These 12 proposals do not look only at measures and incentives which could address, in the short term, the imminent effects of the crisis and kickstart the economy, but in the medium- to long-term to build lasting and prosperous recovery making the entire sector stronger and more resilient to future unexpected events.

  1. Addressing liquidity of SMEs
  2. Targeted measures to those in need
  3. Specific funding opportunities for responsible investments and qualified workforce
  4. Free movement of labour
  5. Free movement of goods
  6. Safe working places for employees in Europe
  7. Encourage people to get their vehicles ‘eco-checked’
  8. Contribute to ensuring a cleaner environment – eliminate ‘gross polluters’ during PTI
  9. Digitalisation: Swift adoption of EU legislation on access to in-vehicle data and resources needed
  10. Promote the circular economy and move towards a more sustainable & circular automotive services sector
  11. Maintain and modernise the Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation
  12. Organise a European Automobile Value Chain Summit

For both the recovery plan and post-COVID world, putting SMEs in the centre of its focus would help unleash their important contribution towards the whole European economy. Equally, in line with the objectives of the EU, helping the sector on its way to be more digitised and circular, will make the EU and its economy more sustainable, resilient and fit for current and future mobility, labour and environmental challenges.


“A swift adoption of EU legislation on access to in-vehicle data and resources is needed to enable the automotive aftermarket to succeed in the digitalisation challenge” – ADPA President, Ralf Pelkmann


“We urgently need support measures of financial and economic nature to fight the imminent effects of the crisis and relaunch economic activity in Europe” – AIRC Director General, Thomas Aukamm


“Encourage people to get their vehicles ‘eco-checked’ will stimulate demand and contribute to the EU’s environmental objectives ” – CECRA Director General, Bernard Lycke


“We can foster economic activity across the whole automotive sector value chain while being in line with the wider goals of the European Union” – EGEA Secretary General, Jordi Brunet


“We want to resolve the current issues, return to a ‘new normal’, and reimagine the industry to make it competitive, resilient and sustainable” – FIGIEFA CEO, Sylvia Gotzen.

“The Single Market, protecting companies, employees and consumers, has to work again; free movement of labour and of goods must be reinstated” – SMEunited Secretary General, Véronique Willems

“Promoting the circular economy and moving towards a more sustainable and circular automotive servicing sector will help us address tomorrow’s challenges” – UEIL Board Member, Jos Jong