Overview
- The government draft, approved Wednesday by the federal cabinet, moves to the Bundestag and Bundesrat to implement the EU repair directive by July 31, 2026.
- Makers would have to offer repairs at reasonable prices for set periods, including at least 10 years for washers and dryers and at least 7 years for smartphones after production ends.
- The plan bans software locks that block fixes and requires access to parts and tools for independent shops, with narrow exceptions tied to safety or intellectual property.
- Consumers who pick a repair instead of a replacement during a defect claim would see the statutory warranty stretch from two years to three.
- Industry faces new duties to stock spares and build service capacity as lawyers and consumer groups test what counts as a reasonable price and how far carve-outs can reach.