A new working party has been set up by the European Commission to lay out the framework for manufacturers to supply vehicle repair data to franchised dealers and independent repairers.

The stimulus is the forthcoming Euro 5 legislation which includes a requirement for repair and maintenance information – including accident repair and on-board diagnostics - to be readily accessible to all types of repair business.

The working group, which includes Thatcham chief operating officer Jason Moseley, is tasked with making that happen under Mandate 421, issued by the EC to European standards body SEN last year.

“Within two years the aim is to have a standard format that says to the manufacturers ‘this is how you must provide your information to the franchised and independent sectors’,” said Moseley.

“The biggest challenge has been to agree how the materials will be used and by whom – in other words, what information do experienced technicians need to know compared to less experienced technicians. We have mapped this out.

"The next stage is to agree the structure of how the data is presented.”

The working party is not without its hitches, however.

Several manufacturers have struggled to attend the meetings, intended to be held four times a year, due to their financial issues.

Euro 5 effectively supersedes the current Block Exemption decree that says independent repairers must have the same access to technical information for body and mechanical repairs as franchised and authorised repairers.

The existing Block Exemption regulation was introduced in 2003 and is due to run out in 2010.

As yet, the European Commission has not decided whether to replacement or abandon the regulation.