The MEC announced that these dealers are Al Boraq Automobiles (Porsche vehicles); Al Hamad Automobiles (Tata, JAC, and Cherry); El Naael (Ssangyong); and Ibin Ajayan Automobiles (Skoda and Seat).
These dealers have abided by the provisions of the Ministerial decision no 418 for 2016, which regulates the conditions and standards of licenses for establishing certified workshops that are not affiliated with car dealers and supporting fair competition within the sector of after sales car-repair services.
The MEC had announced in January this year that 22 automobile distributors gave written consent to comply with a nine-clause initiative to ease warranty terms in accordance with the provisions of Law Number 19 of 2006.
This came in the wake of a comprehensive study of warranty booklets which revealed the use of restrictive practices or ambiguous expressions that might deny warranty coverage to vehicle owners who choose to conduct maintenance or repair works at a third-party workshop.
The MEC statement pointed out that its department concerned would exercise control over the standards and requirements suggested by the auto dealers and distributors. It would study the suggestions and recommendations, and communicate with the local dealers or the manufacturers and ultimately take the necessary procedures in this regard.
After the approval of the department concerned at the MEC, the local dealer and distributor will have to publish the accreditation standards for third-party auto repair and maintenance workshops.
The MEC appreciated the efforts of the four dealers in abiding by the provisions of the Ministerial decision no 418 for 2016, expecting that the rest of the auto dealers in the country would submit their necessary standards and requirements for independent workshops. This would give vehicle owners and consumer a variety of options, which in turn would create an environment for healthy competition.
Earlier, the MEC had pointed out the advantages and benefits for consumers from these workshops. The MEC also stressed that doing repair and maintenance works at such approved third party workshops would not in any way forfeit or undermine the validity of the dealer or manufacturer’s warranty of a vehicle, except for the parts damaged by misuse or wrong handling, when proven.
Auto workshop
Four auto dealers and distributors in Qatar have submitted to the Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) the necessary standards and requirements for the accreditation and the approval of third-party auto repair and maintenance workshops.
