WASHINGTON —The Quality Parts Coalition (QPC) today welcomed ABRA Auto Body & Glass (ABRA) to its growing list of supporters dedicated to preserving consumer choice and competition in the automotive replacement parts market. ABRA joins the QPC to advance the coalition’s goal to secure an automotive “repair clause”, legislation that will give a voice to American consumers who depend on the automotive aftermarket for high-quality, low-cost replacement parts. As the ongoing economic downturn forces more and more motorists to consider sacrificing valuable repairs, it is imperative that Congress enact a “repair clause” to curb the anti-competitive strategy of the car companies.

While companies such as ABRA are giving motorists a break by providing them with cost-effective alternatives to car company parts, the car companies are attempting to stifle marketplace competition and drive up the prices of parts. The number of design patents held by the car companies has more than doubled since 2005, ever since Ford Global Technologies (“Ford”) made its first attempt to eliminate competition in the aftermarket by enforcing 14-year design patents on seven collision replacement parts for the 2004 Ford F-150 through a complaint at the International Trade Commission (ITC). As a result of the ruling, today, the more than 2 million Ford F-150 owners in the U.S. no longer have an alternative option for quality replacement collision parts for their 2004-2007 Ford F-150 pickup trucks.

“Higher parts prices will force insurance companies to declare more vehicles as ‘total wrecks’, resulting in a great loss of business for the repair industry,” said Eileen A. Sottile, executive director, QPC. “More expensive collision parts benefit the car companies – not repair shops and certainly not consumers.”

In 2008, Ford filed another design patent enforcement complaint at the ITC, this time for replacement parts on the 2005 Ford Mustang. A ruling upholding the design patents will adversely affect the bottom lines of repair shops around the country. For the 13 percent of consumers who pay out-of-pocket for repairs, the increasing parts prices may force them to forgo repairs. Higher parts prices may also force insurance companies to declare more damaged vehicles as “total wrecks,” meaning less work for repair shops.  

“The QPC is fighting for the rights of the American consumer and for the livelihood of the auto repair industry in the U.S.,” said Tim Adelmann, executive vice president of business development, ABRA. “We at ABRA recognize the repair business will suffer if car companies gain a monopoly in the crash parts market. For this reason, we are dedicated to securing a permanent legislative change in 2009.”

In 2008, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (CA-16) introduced legislation (H.R. 5638), co-sponsored by seven Members of Congress that would create a narrow exemption to patent law, allowing motorists to enjoy the benefits of quality, alternative replacement parts. The QPC and its members are committed to educating Members of the 111th Congress about the dangers of restrictive design patents.

Typically 26 to 50 percent less expensive than car company-issued parts, alternative replacement parts provide Americans with an enormous savings. However, the current and rising trend of car companies obtaining and enforcing 14-year design patents on collision replacement parts could remove this important benefit to consumers and the economy. The Quality Parts Coalition and its diverse roster of supporters, ranging from the independent parts industry to repairers and insurers and from consumer groups to senior organizations, are dedicated to securing a permanent legislative change.

For more information, visit www.abraauto.com and www.qualitypartscoalition.com.

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ABRA Auto Body & Glass is a national damaged vehicle repair company specializing in collision repair, paintless dent removal, and auto glass repair and replacement. Started with one repair center in 1984, they have grown to 96 facilities in 11 states.

The Quality Parts Coalition represents the interests of the independent parts industry, repairers, insurers, consumers and seniors. It is the goal of the Quality Parts Coalition to develop and secure a permanent legislative change to U.S. design patent law to preserve competition and to protect the consumer’s right to benefit from quality, lower-cost alternative replacement parts.