About the QPC

QUALITY PARTS: GOOD FOR THE CONSUMER, LOWER COST, BEST WARRANTY

Established to protect consumer choice in replacement auto parts, the Quality Parts Coalition (QPC) represents a consortium of independent parts and insurance companies committed to preserving and protecting the benefits of a competitive marketplace when repairing damaged vehicles.

Competition in the quality alterntative collision parts industry helps consumers and the American economy in a number of ways:

• Competition in the alternative collision parts industry saves consumers up to $1.2 billion each year.
• Quality replacement collision parts are anywhere from 26 percent to 50 percent less expensive than manufacturer-issued parts.
• Replacement parts often have warranties that exceed those offered by automobile manufacturers.
• Quality alternative parts are available to consumers at more than 40,000 body shops nationwide.
• The independent collision replacement parts industry employs tens of thousands of American workers and has operations and/or distribution in all 50 states.

A recent patent ruling has effectively eliminated consumer choice for seven separate alternative parts for the 2004-2007 Ford F-150 pickup truck. These patents stifle competition with independent parts manufacturers, eliminating consumers’ ability to choose lower-priced, quality replacement parts. And there is more bad news — indications are the large automobile manufacturers may be strategizing to obtain restrictive 14-year design patents on the visible components of many other new car makes and models, further monopolizing the auto repair parts market.

The QPC is committed to working with Congress to ensure that U.S. design patent law preserves competition, protects consumers’ rights and halts the expansion of an auto industry monopoly at the expense of the American consumer.