Press Releases
MARCH 3, 2008
For Immediate Release
Florida Automotive Industry Association Endorses
the Quality Parts Coalition
FAIA Joins Fight to Secure Permanent Legislative Change
WASHINGTON, March 3, 2008 — The Quality Parts Coalition (QPC) today announced the Florida Automotive Industry Association (FAIA) has joined the growing consortium of independent parts and industry organizations, insurance companies and consumer groups working to preserve competition in the automotive collision replacement parts industry.
With quality replacement parts 26 to 50 percent less expensive than manufacturer-issued parts, the freedom to choose the parts that go into their vehicles saves consumers up to $1.2 billion each year. Alternative replacement parts often carry warranties that exceed those offered by automobile manufacturers, thus giving consumers more value for a lower price. In addition to saving consumers money, the independent alternative body parts market feeds the U.S. economy. In Florida alone, groups represented by FAIA include over 24,000 independent businesses that employ over 150,000 employees.
Without a permanent solution through an automotive patent repair clause, the current and rising trend of automaker design patents on collision replacement parts could eliminate the entire alternative replacement parts industry, thus removing competition in the marketplace.
"The Florida Automotive Industry Association brings a strong force to QPC's efforts to ensure continued competition in our industry," said Eileen Sottile, executive director of the QPC.
"For more than 50 years, the Florida Automotive Industry Association has served its members by providing the opportunity to compete at the highest levels," said George Ehrhard, executive vice president of FAIA. "Joining QPC in support of an automotive repair clause will help FAIA help consumers in Florida and throughout the United States by maintaining competition in the entire automotive aftermarket industry."
FAIA was incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1954. Through the association, members can buy products and services, such as business forms, workers' compensation, health insurance and credit card processing at volume pricing. Through this volume buying, the small independent business can buy products and services as competitive as the big retailers.
For more information, visit www.faia.org and www.qualitypartscoalition.com.
FAIA is a statewide automotive aftermarket association dedicated to serving the needs of its members by providing information, governmental & regulatory services, quality business products and networking opportunities. Eligible members for FAIA are wholesale distributors, jobbers, service facilities (general repair, tire dealers, paint & body, transmission, muffler shops, etc.), engine rebuilders and machine shops and manufacturers.
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.