LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Members of the Quality Parts Coalition (QPC) held a meeting today during auto industry conferences AAPEX and SEMA to share updates on the Coalition’s efforts to secure a legislative fix to U.S. design patent law. With legislation anticipated in the coming weeks, members are urging consumers to sign the group’s petition to protect competition and keep auto parts affordable. The petition is available through the Coalition’s Facebook page under the “Sign the Petition” tab: www.facebook.com/KeepAutoPartsAffordable.

The QPC is using the petition to garner support for competition in the collision repair parts industry as part of the group’s legislative push. The Coalition will be sharing petition signatures with members of Congress to demonstrate constituent support for continued availability of alternative repair parts.

“Competition keeps costs down and ensures that consumers are getting a fair price for repair parts,” said QPC Executive Director Eileen Sottile. “We’re calling on consumers to send a message to Washington that their right to more affordable parts must be preserved, especially in these times of economic uncertainty.”

The petition states:

“I support competition in the automotive parts industry because it is good for everyone. It is good for consumers because it keeps the cost of collision repair parts down. It is good for businesses because it ensures availability of collision repair parts, which means more cars can be repaired more quickly and that helps repair shops stay in business. And it is good for the U.S. economy because the alternative collision parts industry employs tens of thousands of American workers in cities and small towns across the country in all 50 states.

The interests of consumers, businesses and the economy are best served by protecting competition in the automotive parts industry.”

ABOUT QPC

The Quality Parts Coalition represents the interests of the independent parts industry, repairers, insurers, consumers and seniors. The goal of the Quality Parts Coalition is to develop and secure a permanent legislative change to U.S. design patent law to protect the consumer’s right to benefit from quality, lower-cost alternative replacement parts and to preserve competition. For more information, visit www.KeepAutoPartsAffordable.org.

CONTACT:

Ketchum
Alla Shkiler, 202-835-9401
Alla.Shkiler@Ketchum.com

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  Nevada

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:   Public Policy/Government  Public Policy  White House/Federal Government  Automotive  Aftermarket  General Automotive

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