Nissan Importer Parsby Fined 11.5 Million Shekels for Restricting Parallel Import Warranty Services

Parsby, the Israeli importer of Nissan and other car brands, has agreed to pay 11.5 million shekels following a ruling by the Competition Authority. The authority found that Parsby hindered owners of vehicles imported through parallel channels from exercising their manufacturer warranties. Parsby, formerly known as Carasso, imports brands including Chery, Expeng, Renault, Nissan, Dacia, and Infiniti.

The dispute arose because Parsby’s service centers refused to service parallel-imported vehicles without an original warranty certificate, despite having access to the manufacturers’ systems that detail warranty conditions and validity. The Competition Authority ruled that this policy violated Section 31 of the law and was included in the list of prohibited acts against parallel or personal imports by direct importers.

In addition to the fine, Parsby agreed to allow parallel importers to provide vehicle chassis numbers for integration into Parsby’s computerized systems to facilitate servicing. Parsby will also publish information about servicing parallel-imported vehicles on its website. In return, the Transportation Authority agreed not to pursue enforcement actions against Parsby.

Parsby signed the agreement with the Competition Commissioner without admitting to any legal violation. The order requires approval by the Competition Tribunal. Many models from the brands Parsby represents, such as the electric Renault Megane and the Nissan Armada SUV, arrive in Israel exclusively through parallel import channels rather than Parsby’s official import.

This case highlights ongoing tensions between official importers and parallel importers in Israel’s automotive market, focusing on consumer rights to warranty services regardless of import channel.