Sweeping reforms unveiled on car sales

The European Commission today paved the way for car supermarkets

A major shake-up in existing EU rules will mean multi-brand showrooms as makers will no longer be able to stop their dealers selling rival makes.

The prospect is of customers ultimately being able to buy their cars through traditional supermarkets. Tesco has already indicated an interest in offering cars, although the changes announced today will not oblige manufacturers to supply cars to such retail outlets if they do not want to. But the car makers will soon have to accept that they cannot pin their dealers to exclusive contracts.