Alliance of State Automotive Aftermarket Associations Endorses Quality Parts Coalition
Fight Strengthens Against Big Automakers' Monopoly on Aftermarket Collision Parts

Washington, D.C. — During the Alliance of State Automotive Aftermarket Associations (ASAAA) October 30, 2007, member meeting, ASAAA endorsed the Quality Parts Coalition (QPC). The organizations will collaborate to preserve competition in the replacement collision parts market.

The number of design patents awarded to the major automobile manufacturers has dramatically increased during the past five years, growing to about 20 to 25 percent of the total U.S. patents awarded to those manufacturers. Collision parts account for 50 to 93 percent of the U.S. design patents awarded to the car companies. Without a permanent solution, such as a "repair clause," automaker design patent cases could eliminate the entire alternative replacement collision parts industry, thus removing competition in the marketplace.

"The Alliance of State Automotive Aftermarket Associations has a long history of preserving quality and competitiveness in the aftermarket parts industry," said Eileen Sottile, executive director of the QPC. "As we work to incorporate the ‘repair clause’ in the U.S. design patent law, the Alliance brings great strength to the Coalition and provides a solid alliance within the industry."

Established in 1953 to bring together the state association executives to network and address industry issues facing by the aftermarket parts industry, the ASAAA works in affiliation with most every national automotive trade association to best represent its members before industry, media and the government.

"As an association representing all aspects of the automotive industry, the Alliance of State Automotive Aftermarket Associations sees the outcome of this struggle as vital to the future of our industry," stated Randal Ward, president of ASAAA. "We are pleased to be joining forces with the Quality Parts Coalition to protect competition and the consumer in the automotive aftermarket marketplace."

For more information, visit www.qualitypartscoalition.com

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The Quality Parts Coalition represents the interests of the independent parts industry, the repair industry, the insurance industry and consumers. 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.

The Alliance of State Automotive Aftermarket Associations is comprised of 18 regional and state associations representing the automotive aftermarket. While most memberships are predominantly independent parts distributors, many of the associations represent all aspects the automotive industry including automotive service and repair.