The Office of Fair Trading has decided not to take action against TVR after it received complaints it was not supplying independent repairers with spare parts.

The OFT immediately contacted TVR and warned this was a breach of the EU Block Exemption Regulation (BER). As a result, the company reminded all of its dealers of their obligation to supply independent repairers with TVR parts.

The OFT didn’t take action due to the ‘size of TVR’s market and the company’s quick response to rectify the situation’.

Restricting the sale of spare parts is considered to be highly anti-competitive. Without an unrestricted supply of parts, independent repairers are unable to compete effectively with car manufacturers' authorised dealers and consumers have less choice of where to have their car serviced or repaired.

Vincent Smith, OFT director of competition enforcement said: “Cars are generally the second largest purchase made by consumers and, aftersales, services and repairs are a major cost. Restrictions on competition in this market drive up prices and reduce choice and convenience for the customer.”