A European Commission Staff Working Document published on 25 June 2026 evaluates Regulation No. 461/2010, the Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation (MVBER), concluding that it has been largely effective in providing legal certainty and protecting competition in the motor vehicle sector, though stakeholders raised concerns about insufficient clarity regarding digitalisation and vehicle electrification.
The evaluation, covering the period 2021-2025, assesses the MVBER and its accompanying Supplementary Guidelines on vertical restraints, alongside the general Vertical Block Exemption Regulation (VBER). The document draws on qualitative and quantitative data, including public consultations, studies, and input from competition authorities. The MVBER exempts certain vertical agreements in the motor vehicle sector from the prohibition of anti-competitive agreements under Article 101(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, provided they meet specified conditions. The evaluation finds that the regulation has achieved its objectives of increasing legal certainty and controlling over- and under-exemption of agreements. However, some stakeholders pointed out that aspects related to digitalisation—such as online sales, access to vehicle-generated data, and aftermarket services—and the electrification of vehicles lacked adequate legal clarity. The Commission notes that these issues may require further guidance or regulatory adjustments to keep pace with technological developments.
The evaluation is a staff working document and does not propose immediate legislative changes, but it may inform future Commission initiatives. The document will be transmitted to the European Parliament and the Council for information and potential follow-up. Stakeholders, including vehicle manufacturers, independent repairers, and consumer groups, are expected to monitor any subsequent Commission actions that could affect competition dynamics in the automotive aftermarket, particularly regarding access to data and repair services for electric vehicles.