This game is played across a wide range of industry. Even with your common
household automobile, it's well understood that, especially once the
warranty has expired, you should have service done by an independent
mechanic who has the nouse to save you money by using OEM parts rather than
the vehicle manufacturer's branded parts which have a price premium on
them. Car manufacturers in the past have tried to cut out independent
mechanics by denying them access to vehicle data and the like, but alert
governments have come in and prohibited such restrictive trade practices.
On a larger scale, the EU and its member governments have been doing the
same thing.

Tony P

On Thursday 7 December 2023 at 11:31:15 UTC+11 Matthew Geier wrote:

> On 7/12/23 10:57, TP wrote:

> > This could actually invite retaliation from the EU for

> > anti-competitive behaviour. It's quite common for tram, bus and train

> > operators to contract out maintenance to companies other than the

> > original manufacturer. Perhaps in this case the operator was breaching

> > an existing contract during warranty period, for example?

> >

> And speaking to technical people locally, it's a minefield of

> opportunism. And I got a similar response talking to maintenance fitters

> of a major German transport operator.

>

> Once a vehicle gets handed over to non OEM maintenance contractor, price

> gouging on parts parts. Try talking to the techs on the ground, don't

> believe the sweet PR pieces put out by the manufactures about how they

> all love and co-operate with one another.

>

> So much of these modern vehicals is both proprietary and/or software. A

> drunk fitter with a hammer (all that is required to fix a Tatra T3 if

> you believe the legend!) certainly can't keep these modern computers on

> wheels rolling.

>

> Now a manufacture has been caught out building 'logic bombs' into the

> software.

>

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