General Terms and Conditions of LexCom Informationssysteme GmbH, Rüdesheimer Straße 23, 80686 Munich (hereinafter “LexCom”; further contact and company details can be found in the ETKA application under “Legal Notice”), for the software product ETKA and related services (hereinafter “ETKA-Software”). If an affiliate of LexCom concludes the contract for the ETKA-Software with the user, the Terms and Conditions shall apply accordingly.
Where ETKA is distributed in individual markets via an authorised third party who becomes the User’s contractual partner, these Terms and Conditions supplement the contractual agreements concluded between the User and the third party and, in the event of any conflict, shall take precedence over them.
As of: April 2026 (T&C with tracked changes)
These Terms and Conditions apply to all contracts between users of ETKA and LexCom regarding the use of ETKA and related services. Users of ETKA are exclusively business users (Section 14 of the German Civil Code (BGB)).
The user accepts these Terms and Conditions by ticking a checkbox in the order form and/or by clicking a checkbox upon first logging into the ETKA-Software. Users may also access these Terms and Conditions at any time after the conclusion of the contract via the link ‘Terms and Conditions’ available in the ETKA application and at www.etka.com.
The ETKA-Software is provided via www.etka.com and is available in the variants “ETKAlocal” via a downloadable installation file, “ETKAweb” as online access, or as “Software Server” for server installation on the user’s own hardware or hardware supplied by LexCom. These General Terms and Conditions supplement the relevant separate contractual documents for the respective product variant used and apply subordinately to these.
Registered users also have the option of downloading the ETKA-Software as an app (hereinafter “ETKAmobile”); in this case, these General Terms and Conditions supplement the separate General Terms and Conditions for ETKAmobile and apply subordinately to them.
Any deviating, conflicting or supplementary Terms and Conditions shall not form part of the contract unless their validity is expressly agreed in writing.
The use of ETKA is subject to a fee. The amount of the fees and the specific scope of services are set out in the further contractual documents and in the product documentation applicable to the respective version of the ETKA-Software.
An ETKA account and ETKA licences are required to use ETKA. Information on this can be obtained from the Volkswagen Group contact person responsible for the user or via the ETKA contact form. Existing ETKA users can order additional licences or reduce the number of licences within the login area at www.etka.com.
Upon ordering an ETKA product, the user will receive login details (ETKA-ID / username and password). With these, the ETKA user can log in to www.etka.com and thus launch ETKAweb, download and install further product variants, and access their own account and licence management as well as other functions and information sections relating to ETKA.
Orders may only be placed by natural and legal persons with full legal capacity. If the order is placed by a representative of the user, LexCom is entitled to request proof of power of representation. LexCom determines the details of the proof of representation; the representative must be named (e.g. entry ‘Managing Director’ in the ‘Position’ field).
A user agreement may also come into effect if the user is invited by LexCom to use ETKA products free of charge by being sent access details. The user agreement comes into effect when the user enters their login details.
ETKA offers users the opportunity to search for genuine spare parts for the Audi, SEAT, Cupra, Skoda and Volkswagen brands (including Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and Caminhoes e Omnibus) as well as Bentley. In addition, users have the option of creating shopping baskets via ETKA and transferring these to their own Dealer Management System (DMS), to other ETKA users (“ETKA to ETKA order”) or via the official brand spare parts distribution network to the depot, thereby initiating orders. Furthermore, external orders, e.g. from independent garages, can also be imported via ETKA and transferred using the methods described above. A valid status as an authorised dealer for the respective brand is a prerequisite for the full scope of use of all functions.
ETKA serves as a platform for the provision of information from manufacturers to participants in the Volkswagen aftermarket, in particular authorised dealers, and is intended to facilitate the processing of online spare parts orders through the function of transmitting shopping baskets to the order recipient. However, any resulting conclusion of a contract, the handover and settlement of spare parts between the users (prospective customers and dealers) takes place outside the scope of responsibility of ETKA or LexCom.
In addition, to improve the interconnection of dealer systems, technical services may be implemented in ETKA in consultation with Volkswagen AG, through which information such as stock levels and prices can be made available in real time for further processing in certain other systems. A licence amendment may be required for these services. The use of the services may also be subject to a charge, e.g. based on volume. The user will be informed of this during use.
The “Quickview” function allows the user to access external content provided by Volkswagen AG (in particular repair manuals, technical drawings, circuit diagrams, work packages and other documentation). Some of this content can be automatically imported into ETKA, validated based on the VIN, and added to the shopping basket or saved locally. All external information accessible via Quickview is subject to copyright and other intellectual property rights of the respective rights holder. The user is obliged to use this content exclusively within the scope of the intended use in ETKA, in particular for the processing of repair orders. Any misuse, in particular reproduction, distribution, resale or making available to the public, as well as the circumvention of technical protection mechanisms, is expressly prohibited.
Via the “partslink24” tab, the user also has the option of using the online portal www.partslink24.com. Depending on whether the user has been registered there as an order recipient for independent garages or also holds a catalogue subscription, the user can manage their dealer area and received orders via partslink24, as well as access original spare parts from many other manufacturers and initiate spare parts orders for these with other listed order recipients.partslink24 offers an average monthly availability of 98.5%, excluding a scheduled maintenance window on Sundays between 7:00 and 18:00 (German time) and causes beyond LexCom’s control. The General Terms and Conditions of Use, available at www.partslink24.de under ‘Terms and Conditions’, apply.
ETKA offers an average monthly availability of 98.5%, excluding a scheduled maintenance window on Sundays between 7:00 and 18:00 (German time) and causes beyond LexCom’s control. Where certain ETKA functions require interaction with external services over whose availability and functionality LexCom has no influence, liability for service disruptions, delays or unavailability attributable to failures or malfunctions of these external services is excluded, provided that LexCom is not responsible for them.
As the information system officially designated for the Volkswagen dealer network, ETKA supports users (dealers) in providing their customers with a professional service that meets Volkswagen’s specifications. To ensure this service quality, information regarding the nature and scope of transmitted shopping baskets, as well as the use of the ETKA-Software by LexCom, may be analysed in accordance with data protection regulations and forwarded to Volkswagen AG and its importers/national subsidiaries (where relevant to them).
In the course of providing its services, LexCom is not responsible either (a) for the completeness of the spare parts listed in its database or (b) for the completeness and accuracy of the data and information supplied by the manufacturers, as the compilation of this data is beyond LexCom’s control. Should LexCom become aware of any errors in the data, it will immediately inform the relevant manufacturer and provide corrected data. The spare part prices displayed are the manufacturers’ recommended retail prices. Binding price information can only be provided by the relevant seller.
LexCom itself does not offer spare parts via ETKA, nor does it provide information beyond the contents of the database.
The ETKA-Software itself does not contain any prices for spare parts. The display of prices via ETKA is coordinated with the relevant Volkswagen importer or the relevant national subsidiary.
The catalogue is updated online every week.
The user undertakes to process non-binding order enquiries, whether sent externally or via ETKA, carefully and in a timely manner, to draw the prospective customer’s attention to any obvious errors where necessary, and to subsequently process the order enquiry in accordance with standard business practice. However, there is no obligation to submit a purchase offer in response to an order enquiry. If an enquiry is rejected, the prospective customer must be informed of this immediately. The same applies in the event of changes, replacements or additions to the dealer’s offer in relation to the prospective customer’s enquiry. A binding order is only concluded upon the prospective customer’s acceptance of an offer from the dealer and following the transfer of the order enquiry to the dealer’s DMS, where the order is processed. The status of order enquiries can be viewed under the heading “External Orders”.
All personal data collected from the user is processed in accordance with the Privacy laws applicable to LexCom. LexCom’s privacy policy applies. This can be viewed at any time in the ETKA application via the ‘Privacy’ tab.
LexCom grants the user, subject to full payment of the fees due, a non-exclusive right to use ETKA and, where applicable, any other equipment and components supplied, limited to the term of the contract. The User may not rent out, lend, sell, sub-license, make available to third parties for use, assign or transfer ETKA itself or the rights of use thereto, nor may the User copy ETKA or authorise the copying of ETKA, either in part or in full, except in the cases expressly permitted herein.
When using the ETKA-Software, the user has the option to take their own photographs of spare parts or vehicles and share them with other ETKA users via the “ETKA Community”. Content (including “Community Kits” created by the user) which the user uploads to the ETKA-Software in this way or otherwise makes available to LexCom is hereinafter referred to as “User Content”. By uploading or making their content available, the user grants LexCom a simple, transferable right to use their User Content, which is unlimited in terms of time, location and content.
The operation of ETKA on a terminal server is prohibited. The operation of ETKA by a third party (in particular a data centre provider) is permitted only with the express written consent of LexCom.
The integration of ETKA into the user’s own software products/online services or into software products/online services of third-party providers, whether by means of ‘framing’ or in any other way, is prohibited.
The complete or partial reverse engineering of ETKA is prohibited.
The user undertakes to ensure a high-performance internet connection and the continuous operation of ETKA for its correct functioning, to install available online updates promptly, and to carefully read all documentation supplied with the devices/software, observe the instructions and follow the user guides. Any changes to the configuration of the hardware and software supplied by LexCom may only be made in consultation with LexCom customer service. All costs or damages arising from measures taken without consultation with LexCom shall be borne by the user.
Administrators of user accounts undertake to create and manage additional users in the system in a proper and truthful manner and to make changes to user data immediately at www.etka.com under the ‘Administration’ section.
The user warrants that the user content and their other entries and communications do not infringe any laws or the rights of third parties and do not adversely affect other data or LexCom’s data processing system. This applies in particular to personal rights and intellectual property rights (e.g. copyright and trademark rights, etc.). In particular, the user is prohibited from offering or requesting information and data that contravenes criminal or other legal provisions, or the trading of which is prohibited or subject to authorisation.
If ETKA is used by organisations with multiple locations/branches, a separate ETKA account must be registered for each location. Additional users within an ETKA-ID may only be created for persons at the same location. Only one registration is permitted per location/ETKA-ID.
In the event of a breach, the user is obliged to indemnify LexCom against all claims brought by third parties against LexCom as a result of a breach of law; this does not apply if the user has not acted culpably. In the event of an infringement, the user is obliged, upon request, to immediately provide LexCom with all information necessary for its defence in the event of a claim by a third party, truthfully and in full, as required for the examination of the claims and a defence against them. Any liability of the user beyond these provisions remains unaffected.
The use of ETKA – in particular the chassis number enquiry function – is primarily intended for the purpose of identifying necessary spare parts for a vehicle in connection with an underlying customer order and procuring them via ETKA. Any use for other purposes – in particular the disclosure or publication of the data for the user’s own commercial purposes – is prohibited and will result in LexCom blocking the responsible user account.
Furthermore, the user shall only use ETKA to an extent that does not significantly exceed the customary scope of use* as defined in Section 5(11). Should use exceed this purpose and/or the customary scope of use, LexCom reserves the right to restrict or block access to ETKA.
Users may not reproduce, store in other media, distribute or modify the information, data, drawings, specifications and documentation integrated into ETKA (the “ETKA Material”). Access to the ETKA Material via automated processes (e.g. robots, spider tools, scrapers or comparable technologies) or in any other manner that deviates from natural user behaviour* is prohibited. This applies in particular to the automated or systematic reading, collection or extraction of data or content from ETKA. It is also prohibited to use software, browser extensions, scripts or other third-party tools that are designed or capable of altering, manipulating or influencing the functionality of programme code, including byte code, scripts, data structures or other functional components of ETKA – whether processed on the server, in the browser or in the user’s device’s memory. In particular, the user is prohibited from using such means to suppress page elements, selectively hide content, alter functional processes, or display or execute ETKA, in whole or in part, in a manner other than that provided for by the programme code. Excluded from the above prohibition are such actions and uses that are legally permissible or required. This includes, in particular, the use of technical aids that serve exclusively to create or promote accessibility. Printing and saving individual pages is permitted for personal use only.
The user data generated as part of user management (username, name and email address) must be assigned as individually as possible and linked to a specific user. The user must not share these individual access details (in particular the username and password) with third parties, pass them on to third parties, or generate a user under the ETKA-ID on behalf of third parties.
The amount of the fees is set out in the further contractual documents.
The prices stated on the equipment or order form are the list prices valid on the date of issue. If prices change before the order is received, LexCom will submit a new quotation to the user. There is no obligation to deliver in accordance with an outdated price list.
All prices are gross prices and include the applicable statutory VAT, depending on the place of residence or registered office of the recipient (EU/third countries).
LexCom shall provide the user with invoices for the subscription fees in text form (PDF format). The user also agrees, following the introduction of electronic invoicing in accordance with the Value Added Tax Act (UStG), to continue to receive invoices in PDF format, provided this is legally permissible and the user does not expressly object.
All fees are settled, depending on the user’s registered office, by credit card, direct debit or via an annual invoice payable in advance. The user must ensure that the account or credit card has sufficient funds and that the credit card and bank details are valid and correct. All fees incurred in connection with bank transfers are to be borne by the user.
If a dealer has had their status as an authorised dealer revoked, the dealer may terminate their ETKA licence agreement at the end of the relevant month upon the termination of this status. Compliance with this notice period depends on the email being sent to contracts@lexcom.de , stating this reason. If LexCom is informed by Volkswagen of a dealer’s withdrawal from the Volkswagen dealer network and the loss of dealer status for all brands, LexCom must terminate the ETKA licence agreement with two months’ notice to the end of the month.
In accordance with the nature of the platform, purchase contracts initiated via ETKA are concluded by means of electronic communication. Declarations of intent are regularly submitted by email.
Users acknowledge the unrestricted validity of declarations of intent transmitted in this manner in accordance with the following provisions:
The email must not omit the usual details or circumvent them by anonymisation; that is to say, it must contain the sender’s name and email address, the time of dispatch (date and time), and a reproduction of the sender’s name at the end of the message. Unless proven otherwise, an email received in accordance with this provision shall be deemed to have originated from the other party.
All communications must be written in German or English, and the relevant contact form must be used.
Please address any communications and declarations regarding these Terms and Conditions to contracts@lexcom.de .
LexCom shall be liable to the user without limitation for all damages caused by LexCom, its legal representatives or vicarious agents in cases of intent or gross negligence.
In cases of slight negligence, LexCom shall be liable without limitation in the event of injury to life, limb or health. Otherwise, LexCom shall only be liable to the extent that the company has breached a material contractual obligation (cardinal obligation). In such cases, liability is limited to compensation for foreseeable, typically occurring damage. For claims arising within a contract year, liability in such cases is limited in total to the amount of the fees paid in that contract year.
Liability under the provisions of the Product Liability Act remains unaffected.
The user shall indemnify LexCom against all claims asserted by other users or other third parties against LexCom on the grounds of an infringement of their rights by the content posted by the user on the ETKA services. The user shall bear all reasonable costs incurred by LexCom as a result of an infringement of third-party rights, including reasonable costs incurred for legal defence. All further rights and claims for damages on the part of LexCom remain unaffected. The user is entitled to prove that LexCom has in fact incurred lower costs.
If the user’s content infringes the rights of third parties, the user shall, at LexCom’s discretion and at the user’s own expense, either procure the right to use the content or ensure that the content is free of any intellectual property rights.
German law shall apply, to the exclusion of the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods.
The place of performance for all mutual obligations arising from the contract is Munich.
The place of jurisdiction shall be, at LexCom’s discretion, either the user’s place of business or Munich, Germany.
These Terms and Conditions are available in German and in various other languages. In case of doubt, the German version shall prevail for the interpretation of the Terms and Conditions.
LexCom reserves the right to amend these Terms and Conditions at any time without giving reasons. The user will be notified of the amendment by means of an electronic notification in the course of using ETKA. If the user does not object to the amendments within four weeks of receiving the notification, the amended provisions shall be deemed to have been accepted.
Excluded from the right to amend under this clause are provisions which relate to the principal obligations of the contracting parties and which thereby significantly alter the balance between principal and reciprocal obligations, as well as other fundamental changes to the contractual obligations which are tantamount to the conclusion of a new contract. Such amendments require an express contractual agreement.
* The standard scope of use is based on empirical, anonymous analyses of ETKA usage and corresponds to the typical usage of a user at an authorised dealer, including the associated daily workshop rounds. For other user groups – with a higher volume of usage – it is at LexCom’s discretion to assess the permissibility of such use.