Manufacturers must improve Access to technical Information

Publication date: 15 October 2004

Car manufacturers must make progress to allow independent repairers and other operators to get access to technical information on their vehicles, reveals a study produced for the European Commission's Competition Directorate-General.

The report, produced by "Institut für Kraftfahrwesen" (IKA) of the University of Aachen, covers nine motor vehicle manufacturers (BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Fiat, Ford, GM, PSA, Renault, Toyota and Volkswagen) and six truck manufacturers (DAF, DaimlerChrysler, Iveco, MAN, Renault trucks and Volvo) in 8 countries (in Germany, Italy, France, the UK, the Netherlands, Ireland, Denmark, Poland).

The study shows that technical information for almost all models launched within the last ten years is available, either via the Internet, on CD/DVD and/or on paper. The quality of information provision is, however, often quite unsatisfactory as the information is difficult to find or may only be available in large, costly packages. The content is also often insufficient, with some manufacturers holding back a great deal of information that is vital, for example, to diagnostic-tool manufacturers. These firms have a specific role to play, as they alone are likely to provide a viable lower-cost alternative to the expensive diagnostic tools offered by car manufacturers. Lastly, publishers of technical information, whose products are greatly valued by independent repairers, have trouble obtaining the information they need.

The full text of the study can be found here:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/competition/car_sector/ika/ika.html

Background:
Commission Regulation 1400/2002 on the motor vehicle sector came into force in October 2002.  It is designed to increase competition in motor vehicle distribution and repair.  The Regulation stipulates that access to technical information must be given “in a nondiscriminatory, prompt and proportionate way” in order to encourage competition in car repair. The study looks at how manufacturers have complied with the Regulation in terms of providing technical information to garages, tool manufacturers and publishers.

Next steps:
DG Competition is interested in reactions to and comments on this study. Interested parties may therefore submit their comments at the latest on the 31 December 2004 by mail to:

European Commission
Directorate General for Competition
Greffe Antitrust - IKA study
B-1049 BRUSSELS
comp-IKA-study@cec.eu.int