Summary
The Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER) opens a consultation on May 13, 2026 regarding amendments to the Price Disclosure Ordinance (PDO, SR 942.211). The revision implements Motion Pfister Gerhard (22.4544) and requires vehicle leasing providers to disclose financing contributions from affiliated companies or distribution partners. The transparency obligation extends to offers and advertising. Consultation deadline: September 3, 2026.
Persons
- Gerhard Pfister (Motion proponent)
Topics
- Price Disclosure Ordinance (PDO)
- Vehicle leasing
- Cost transparency
- Consumer protection
Clarus Lead
The consultation addresses a structural transparency deficit in the leasing market: hidden subsidies from manufacturers and financing companies reduce actual prices without consumers understanding the cost chain. The regulatory initiative aims to reduce competitive distortions and establish comparability – a signal for stronger market supervision in the automotive sector.
Detailed Summary
The amendment to the PDO supplements the existing ordinance with a disclosure requirement for financing contributions that reduce leasing conditions. This covers subsidies from affiliated companies or authorized distribution partners – typically manufacturer financing companies that reduce leasing offers through rebates or interest discounts. The regulation applies to written offers as well as advertising materials, thus enforcing complete cost disclosure.
The implementation follows the intent of Pfister's motion, which was submitted in 2022 and pointed to missing cost transparency as a market failure. Through the quantification requirement, consumers and competitors should be able to identify and evaluate the true costs of leasing products.
Key Statements
- Vehicle leasing providers must disclose financing contributions from affiliated companies and distribution partners
- Transparency obligation applies equally to offers and advertising
- Consultation deadline ends on September 3, 2026
Critical Questions
Evidence: What data foundation documents the extent of hidden subsidization in the Swiss leasing market, and how was the regulatory need quantified?
Delimitation: How are "financing contributions" precisely defined – does the regulation also cover manufacturer discounts for bulk quantities or only direct leasing subsidies?
Enforcement: What control mechanisms and sanctions are planned to monitor compliance, and who bears supervisory responsibility?
Competitive Effect: Could smaller leasing providers without group financing be competitively disadvantaged by the transparency requirement if large corporations must disclose their subsidies?
International Harmonization: Does the Swiss regulation align with EU transparency requirements, or do compliance costs arise for cross-border operating providers?
Implementation Effort: What IT and documentation systems must leasing providers establish to fulfill the quantification requirement?
Source Directory
Primary Source: Consultation Opening: Amendment to the Price Disclosure Ordinance (PDO) – Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research, May 13, 2026
Legal Basis: Motion Pfister Gerhard 22.4544 – Hidden Cross-Subsidization in Automobile Leasing
Verification Status: ✓ May 13, 2026
This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial Responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-Check: May 13, 2026