As we look ahead to 2025, Europe's automotive aftermarket faces several significant challenges and opportunities. Here are the five key themes I believe will shape our industry in the coming year: 

1. Political Uncertainty Persists 

The fragmented European Parliament that emerged from the 2024 elections continues to impact automotive policy. The upcoming German federal election and ongoing political "cohabitation" in France between opposing executive and legislative branches are creating additional uncertainty around environmental and industrial policies. 

The new EU Commission’s 2025 emissions targets, which require a 15% reduction compared to 2021 levels, will be a crucial test of both industry capability and political will. How potential non-compliance is handled could set the tone for future environmental regulations, particularly given the growing debate around the practicality of the 2035 ICE ban timeline. 

2. MVBER Consultation Takes Center Stage 

The start of the EU’s Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation consultation in Q1 2025 marks a critical moment for our industry. While the current regulation was only recently finalized, the rapid pace of technological change means we must already begin shaping the next iteration. 

As an industry, we need to move beyond ‘Brussels-bubble’ speak and clearly communicate what's at stake here. Every time an independent workshop can't repair something without requesting access or payment to an OEM – or worse, can't do the repair at all – we've found another example of why MVBER matters. We're committed to gathering real-world examples from our customers to help regulators understand the practical implications of these regulations. 

3. OEMs Face EV Growing Pains 

2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for EV sustainability. We're seeing encouraging progress on battery repair solutions, with several promising projects emerging in the independent aftermarket. This couldn't come at a more crucial time; some analysis suggests that EVs still need to clock around 80,000 km to become carbon-neutral, making battery longevity crucial to their environmental credentials. 

However, struggling EV sales for new EVs in key markets, mean we're seeing more EVs entering the aftermarket sooner than expected. This trend, combined with the continuing ageing of the overall car parc, makes viable battery repair solutions even more critical. 

Through LKQ Academy, we're ramping up our EV training programmes to ensure workshops are ready to handle these vehicles. Our goal is to train 5,000 technicians in EV repair and maintenance across Europe in 2025 alone. 

4. SERMI Gains Momentum 

While the roll-out of the SERMI scheme has been slower than initially hoped, we're now seeing real momentum. The Netherlands and Germany have led the way in implementation, with Italy set to follow in early 2025. This standardized approach to security authentication is crucial for ensuring the independent aftermarket maintains its right to repair, while addressing legitimate security concerns. 

LKQ Europe is actively supporting this transition through our network of training centers and a series of strategic partnerships negotiated with the scheme’s leading Conformity Assessment Bodies. We've already helped hundreds of workshops through the accreditation process and are expanding our support services to include pre-assessment consultations and post-certification technical support. 

5. Green Parts Enter the Mainstream

With the average European vehicle now 12 years old – a trend that’s not going anywhere – the circular economy is growing in importance. Green parts (recycled and remanufactured components) are moving from a niche offering to a mainstream solution. This shift is driven by both environmental consciousness and economic necessity, as supply chain pressures and raw material costs continue to impact new parts availability. 

These five themes reflect an industry in transition, that’s facing both challenges and opportunities. The aftermarket's ability to adapt to these changes while maintaining its core role in keeping Europe's vehicles safe and operational will be crucial. Success will require collaboration across the industry, from independent workshops to parts suppliers and OEMs. 

As always, I'm interested in hearing your thoughts and experiences. How are these trends affecting your business? What other challenges do you see on the horizon?