Press Release: Competition: Commission invites comments on four carmakers’ commitments to give adequate access to technical information

The European Commission has invited comments from interested parties on commitments proposed by four carmakers - DaimlerChrysler, Toyota, General Motors and Fiat - to give independent repair shops adequate access to technical information. Following an in-depth Commission investigation, the four carmakers proposed commitments to address the Commission's preliminary concern that they appeared not to have provided independent repairers with adequate access to technical information. Lack of such access makes it more difficult for independent workshops to compete, thereby potentially limiting European consumers' choice of local repair shops. If the results of this market test are positive, the Commission intends to adopt decisions under Article 9(1) of Regulation 1/2003 declaring the four sets of commitments to be binding. These decisions would bring the proceedings in the four cases to an end.