In the days of old, most brit cars used Joe Lucas 7 inch round headlights, so if you broke one, uncle Joe would sell you another for a reasonable price.

Hey, said the manufacturers, let's specify specials which fit in with the decor that our modern airhead trendy designers come up with. Even better, said the money men, we will negotiate a deal with our chosen lamp supplier, that he can only sell to us. Woe betide him if he sells to someone else, because we'll blackball him, and get our car manufacturing buddies to blackball him too, so he won't be in business for much longer.

Now we've got the market stitched up let's print the money ..... wahey !

OK, I'm a cynical old phart, but just you watch out for the next shennanigans of the motor manufacturers. They are using their clout to lobby the European Parliarment for legislation to make it illegal to sell pattern parts (ie anything but manufacturers original parts). So, now if you break something non safety-critical, you will be ripped off with nowhere to turn but the manufacturers. In effect, buying a car will go the same way as buying a computer printer .... cost of printer £109, cost of print cartridge (only obtainable from the manufacturer) £59