Ohio Senators amended a bill that would have prohibited the sale of OEM parts by independent tire dealers and repair shops.

Reacting to efforts by the Ohio Tire & Automotive Association and its members, Senate Bill 204 was amended to allow the independent aftermarket to sell and install OE-produced parts, particularly in the case of warranty work and vehicle or component recalls.

It is expected that the Ohio House, which was considering an identical bill, will follow the same amendment.

“Our concerns from the start were twofold: First, the original bill would have been extremely detrimental to many tire and automotive parts and repair businesses throughout the state,” said OTAA president John Miller. “Limiting what our members can sell and what types of service our members can offer to consumers would have put incredible pressure on this industry. And second, the bill would have limited consumer choice by forcing consumers to buy OEM parts directly from dealerships.”

Gordon Gough, executive director of the OTAA added, “We thank the Ohio Senate for amending SB 204. We worked hand-in-hand with the Senate and with Ohio’s auto dealer community to find a compromise that allows the automotive aftermarket industry to continue thriving in this state.”