Access to OEM Data is the Key to the Competitiveness of Sweden’s IAM

Access to OEM data is essential to Sweden’s IAM competitiveness, says Lars Bergmark, CEO of Svenska Fordonsbranschen. Sweden’s independent aftermarket generates an estimated SEK 30 billion in annual revenue, excluding labour, and employs approximately 25,000 people. Bergmark also identifies access to digital service records and continuous technical training as crucial to fair competition.

Lars Bergmark presented an overview of Sweden’s independent aftermarket at The Focus on Nordic IAM event, organized by Automediat.com, at Automechanika Frankfurt on September 9, 2026. His presentation linked the market’s size to the practical competition issues that regulation and the digitization of cars present to workshops and parts suppliers.

Svenska Fordonsbranschen: Over 2,200 Member Companies

Svenska Fordonsbranschen represents over 2,200 companies operating in Sweden’s independent aftermarket, including workshops for passenger and commercial vehicles, spare parts wholesalers and distributors, as well as operators in the motorcycle, motorhome, and recreational vehicle sectors.

According to 2025 statistics, there were approximately 430 independent auto parts distributors and wholesalers in Sweden, as well as approximately 5,050 independent workshops. The number of employees at these workshops was estimated at approximately 14,320. The Swedish aftermarket has a turnover of approximately 30 billion kronor. The industry employs a total of approximately 25,000 professionals.

Vehicle Data is Key to Competition

Bergmark identified access to vehicle data as one of the key competitive issues in Sweden’s independent aftermarket. According to his presentation, Annex X of the delegated act on type-approval regulations has been approved, but it does not cover all spare parts specific to a particular vehicle variant. Meanwhile, preparations are underway for the next phase of the Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation (MVBER) in anticipation of its implementation in 2028.

Electronic service manuals also pose practical problems. According to Bergmark, independent operators may be denied access to these systems or charged a high fee for access. This undermines their ability to compete with brand networks for the same maintenance and repair work.

Reporter: Valentina Ahlavuo, Automediat.com