Quality Parts Coalition to Collision Repairers: Beware of Car Company Patents

QPC Working to Secure a Permanent Change to U.S. Patent Legislation

Washington, DC — As the meeting of the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) drew to a close in late January, Eileen Sottile, executive director of the Quality Parts Coalition (QPC), educated Collision Industry Conference attendees about the industry repercussions of attempts by big auto companies to monopolize the automotive collision replacement parts market.

The Conference, a forum where collision industry stakeholders come together to discuss issues, build broad understanding and find common ground, provided the Quality Parts Coalition with an opportunity to discuss solutions to maintaining the future vitality of the independent auto parts industry, particularly the Coalition’s goal to secure a permanent change to U.S. patent legislation.

Due to a recent patent ruling, consumers no longer have an alternative option for many quality replacement parts for the 2004 and newer Ford F-150 pickup trucks. These alternative replacement parts – including the items consumers typically need to repair their vehicles after a crash, such as bumpers, taillights, and grilles – cost anywhere from 26 percent to 50 percent less than parts manufactured by the large automobile companies. As the number of design patents awarded to the major automobile manufacturers continues to increase, consumers are facing dwindling choices and increasing prices.

“This is not a parts issue, it is a battle over reparability, and a win for the car companies is a loss for the entire repair industry,” said Eileen Sottile of the QPC. “With increased parts prices, customers may forgo repairing their vehicles. Higher prices will force insurance companies to declare more damaged vehicles as ‘total losses,’ which translates into less work for auto body repair shops and less business for their suppliers.”

“This disturbing trend threatens the future of the collision repair industry,” added Sottile. “The car companies are already-limiting consumer options for repairs. Today, it is parts, and tomorrow, it will be the independent shop repair.”

For more information, visitwww.qualitypartscoalition.com