Brussels, 14/09/2007 (Agence Europe) - On 11 September 2007, the European Commission adopted four decisions that legally bind DaimlerChrysler, Toyota, General Motors and Fiat to commitments to provide technical information about car repairs to all independent garages in the EU. Inadequate access to such information can be used by car manufacturers to drive independent repairers from the market, thereby infringing Article 81 of the EC Treaty.
Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes commented: "These decisions provide a concrete and timely solution to the problems faced by independent repairers, who might lose their ability to compete without access to the relevant technical information". Independent repairers are often cheaper than authorised outlets, sometimes by over 50%. In addition, if repairs were carried out without the right technical information, this could lead to vehicles being driven in an unsafe condition, and add to air pollution and wasted fuel. The commitments will be binding until the motor vehicle block exemption (Commission Regulation (EC) 1400/2002) expires in May 2010. By that time, the vehicle emissions regulation (Council Regulation (EC) 715/2007) will have entered into force. This places an obligation upon vehicle manufacturers to provide independent repairers with standardised access to all technical repair information.
In the four cases in question, the Commission found that the car manufacturers' behaviour breached Regulation 1400/2002, which stipulates that full and non-discriminatory access must be provided to technical information for independent repairers and such information must be provided in proportion to their needs. Lack of access to such repair information can drive repairers out of business. (cd)