Merger of AME and CECRA completed:
AME is now the unified voice representing distribution, services and
after-sales sectors of individual mobility in Europe

AME brings together leading national associations representing the automotive and mobility services ecosystem across Europe – from dealers to repair shops, independent and franchised companies – as well as European Dealer Councils, into a single, stronger European body.

The initiative ensures that the sector’s priorities are effectively represented at the highest levels of EU policymaking. AME will work to promote fair regulation, safeguard market access, and strengthen support for SMEs.

“We launched the idea of creating a new strong alliance in Paris in 2025. I am deeply satisfied that the merger between CECRA and AME has now been completed. AME is built on a shared ambition to create a united voice at EU level to ensure strong representation, foster innovation, and support the sustainable transformation of mobility across Europe”, said Xavier Horent, CEO of Mobilians and Co-President of AME.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us. Our industry is experiencing one of the most significant transformations in recent decades. This requires our full attention and a strong, united voice in Brussels. We look forward to working together in AME at this crucial time for the sector, and we look forward to further strengthening and expanding our partnerships in Brussels”, said Jürgen Hasler, CEO of ZDK and Co-President of AME.

“For more than 40 years CECRA has been the trusted voice of dealers and repairers in Brussels. By joining forces in AME, we are creating a stronger and more influential organization at a critical moment, as the automotive industry undergoes a major transformation. I am proud we have taken this step to become even more influential for the benefit of our members across Europe. We look forward to bringing our expertise to the EU Institutions through AME”, says Peter Daeninck, President of CECRA.

Automotive Mobility Europe – AME asbl-vzw – Rue Jacques de Lalaing 4 – B-1040 Brussels – BE1027608991

AME is now the authoritative and unified voice of the automotive retail and repair and mobility services sector.

CECRA and AME would like to thank Peter Daeninck for his longstanding leadership and his key role in bringing this merger to fruition. His contribution has been essential in shaping this new European organization as well as his dedication to the sector throughout many years.

Political priorities

• Legislation must become simpler, more coherent and less bureaucratic for SMEs to navigate.
• We urgently need a fair and transparent market framework in the automotive sector.
• Access to vehicle data and access to battery repair are essential elements for our members.
• The retail and repair sector must become a policy priority.
• AME fully supports the decarbonization of road transport. We will contribute to working towards predictable long-term policy and technology-open solutions for climate neutral road transport.
• Fragmented charging networks must become better across Europe, and charging must become simpler, cheaper and more transparent and electric grids must be reinforced to support rising demand, ensuring electrification as an enabler rather than a bottleneck.

Please see more on www.automotivemobilityeurope.eu.

The AME Board consists of:

Co-Presidents:

• Xavier Horent, CEO Mobilians (France)
• Jürgen Hasler, CEO ZDK (Germany)

Vice-Chair:

• Gitte Seeberg, CEO AutoBranchen Danmark (Denmark)

Treasurer:

• Rodrigo da Silva, President ARAN (Portugal)

Board Members:

• Geert Brummelhuis, Manager Automotive Retail BOVAG (Netherlands)
• Tero Lausala, CEO AKL (Finland)
• Henri de Hemptinne, President TRAXIO (Belgium)
• Jaime Barea, President GANVAM (Spain)

For more information, please contact:
MOBILIANS – Dorothée Dayraut-Jullian – ddayrautjullian@mobilians.fr +33 616953135
ZDK – Andreas Cremer – cremer@kfzgewerbe.de +49 30 817 2024 71

EU Adopts Delegated Act Revising Annex X of Regulation (EU) 2018/858 – Major Step for Vehicle Data Access and Fair Competition

The European association Automotive Mobility Europe (AME) welcomes the revision of Annex X of Regulation (EU) 2018/858 as a milestone for fair competition and non-discriminatory access to vehicle data in the automotive aftermarket. The update reflects the growing importance of software-defined vehicles and sets new standards for access to vehicle-related information.

“Discrimination-free access to vehicle data is the backbone of a competitive market – and ultimately the foundation of affordable mobility,” emphasizes AME.

At the core of the reform is a future-proof regulatory framework for access to Repair and Maintenance Information (RMI) and On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) data. The rules strike the right balance between safeguarding the rights and competitiveness of the independent repair sector and allowing manufacturers to implement measures that protect the cybersecurity integrity of vehicles.

Independent repairers rely on timely and secure access to OBD data, technical information, multi-brand diagnostic tools, and replacement parts. Clear rules, enforceable safeguards, and effective compliance monitoring are therefore essential to prevent undue restrictions on access.

Manufacturers will face significantly expanded information obligations, ranging from detailed diagnostic and software data to calibration information for advanced driver-assistance systems and requirements related to high-voltage battery management.

In an increasingly software-driven vehicle landscape, professional repairs are only possible with comprehensive access to data, software, and calibration information. The EU reform provides the necessary legal clarity to enable this.

“A selected group of stakeholders have held extensive discussions over 2 years on these topics and are satisfied with the balanced proposal presented by the Commission. It ensures cybersecure vehicle access while providing the necessary information that enables our members to carry out repairs,” said Jan-Willem van der Linden, Technical Director of AME.

A strong focus is placed on data quality and usability: in the future, information must be made available in machine-readable formats, with the same level of detail as manufacturer-internal data, and via standardized interfaces.

The regulation also promotes open, non-proprietary solutions for software access, control unit reprogramming, and component activation – a key lever for ensuring fair market competition.

The reform is complemented by the establishment of a so-called OBD Forum, which will oversee further implementation. AME will be actively involved in this Forum to be able to monitor the rollout and actively contribute to shaping the relevant processes.

We call upon the Commission to start up discussions on enforcement of the Regulation, the coding of spare parts and guidance on fair and reasonable pricing.

The delegated act is scheduled to enter into force in early June 2026.

About Automotive Mobility Europe (AME)

Automotive Mobility Europe (AME) is a European industry association advocating for fair competition, innovation, and open access to vehicle data across the automotive ecosystem.

CECRA and Automotive Mobility Europe (AME) decided to join forces to represent the automotive and mobility services in Brussels

The members of CECRA unanimously approved, during their General Assembly on 24th September in Budapest, the launch of a merger process with Automotive Mobility Europe (AME), a European association founded in 2025 by eight national associations representing the automotive services sector in Europe. AME is co-chaired by Xavier Horent, from Mobilians (France), and Jürgen Hasler, from the German Federation of Motor Traders and Repairers (ZDK) (Germany). CECRA, originally founded by France and Germany and chaired by Peter Daeninck, is an integral part of the heritage of automotive services. In parallel, the General Assembly of AME also decided to prepare for this merger, marking a joint and strategic commitment to building a unified European voice for the sector.

Following this General Assembly, Automotive Mobility Europe (AME), will become the representative body of the sector in Brussels and the key interlocutor for public decision-makers and stakeholders in the automotive industry. AME is accredited by the European Commission’s transparency register.

As the automotive sector undergoes unprecedented transformations, and with an increasingly complex automotive market, companies in the automotive and mobility services sector need a united and strong representation more than ever, along with collective mobilization from professionals.

The goal of the new association, now supported by all European countries following the confirmation of CECRA’s integration, is to engage in high-level dialogue with European decision-makers and other stakeholders in the sector, including manufacturers, suppliers, consumer associations, and environmental organizations.

With this integration and wide representation, Automotive Mobility Europe will have greater influence to represent the sector’s interests and ensure its legitimacy and the effectiveness of its actions.

AME is based on two essential pillars: on one hand, representation by national associations, and on the other, European associations in the automotive aftermarket sector.

Keep Europe moving!

Eight founding members of « Automotive Mobility Europe » : AKL (Finland), ARAN (Portugal), AutoBranchen (Denmark), BOVAG (Netherlands), GANVAM (Spain), Mobilians (France), Traxio (Belgium), ZDK (Germany).

For further information, please contact:

• To be completed by the national press contact
• To be completed by CECRA contact

About Automotive Mobility Europe
Founded in 2025, the European association Automotive Mobility Europe (AME) represents authorized vehicle dealers, independent repairers, service stations, the recharging network of electric vehicles, vehicles recyclers and all services related to the automotive aftermarket. The sales and maintenance sector accounts for 4.5 million jobs in the EU. With great care for customer service and expertise, we are the direct link to the consumers and are the key factor to push sustainable mobility.

About CECRA
CECRA – the European Council for Motor Trades and Repairs – is a European association of the motor trade and repair sector, representing the interests of franchised dealers/agents of passenger cars and trucks, authorised repairers and independent repairers. In 2025, CECRA initiated the merger process with Automotive Mobility Europe, in support of a unified representation in Brussels.