COMMISSION DECISION
of 13 September 2007
relating to a proceeding pursuant to Article 81 of the EC Treaty
(Case COMP/E-2/39.140 - DaimlerChrysler)
(notified under document number C(2007) 4275)
(Only the English text is authentic)
(2007/788/EC)
(1)
This decision adopted pursuant to Article 9(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 (1) is addressed to DaimlerChrysler AG (hereinafter DaimlerChrysler) and concerns the supply of technical information for the repair of vehicles of the Mercedes-Benz and Smart brands.
(2)
Technical information consists of data, processes and instructions which are necessary to check, repair and replace defective/broken/used parts of a motor vehicle or to fix failures in any of a vehicle’s systems. It includes seven main categories:
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basic parameters (documentation of all reference values and set points of the measurable values concerning the vehicle, such as torque settings, brake clearance measurements, hydraulic and pneumatic pressures),
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diagrams and descriptions of stages in repair and maintenance operations (service handbooks, technical documents such as work plans, descriptions of tools used to carry out a given repair, and diagrams such as wiring schematics or hydraulics),
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testing and diagnosis (including diagnostic fault/troubleshooting codes, software and other information needed to diagnose faults on vehicles) - much, but not all, of this information is contained in specialised electronic tools,
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codes, software and other information needed to re-program, re-set or re-initialise the electronic control units (ECUs) embarked on a vehicle. This category is linked to the preceding one, in that often the same electronic tools are used to diagnose the fault, and then make the necessary adjustments via the ECUs to deal with it,
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spare parts information, including parts catalogues with codes and descriptions, and vehicle identification methods (that is to say, data relating to a specific vehicle which enable a repairer to identify the individual codes for the parts fitted during vehicle assembly, and to identify the corresponding codes for compatible original replacement parts for that specific vehicle),
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special information (recall notices and notification of frequent faults),
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training materials.
(3)
In December 2006, the Commission opened proceedings, and addressed a preliminary assessment to DaimlerChrysler, containing the preliminary view that DaimlerChrysler’s agreements with its after-sales service partners raised concerns as to their compatibility with Article 81(1) of the EC Treaty.
(4)
In the Commission’s preliminary assessment, DaimlerChrysler seemed to have failed to release certain categories of technical repair information well after the end of the transitional period provided for in Regulation (EC) No 1400/2002 (2). Moreover, at the time that the Commission’s investigation was launched, DaimlerChrysler had still not put in place an effective system to allow independent repairers to have access to technical repair information in an unbundled manner. Although DaimlerChrysler improved the accessibility of its technical information over the course of the Commission investigation, notably by setting up a website (the TI website) in June 2005 designed for that purpose, the information made available to independent repairers seemed to be still incomplete.
(5)
That preliminary assessment found that the relevant markets affected by the practice at issue were the market for the provision of repair and maintenance services for passenger cars, and the market for the provision of technical information to repairers. The Mercedes-Benz and Smart authorised networks had very high market shares on the first of these markets, while on the second, DaimlerChrysler was the only supplier able to offer all of the technical information needed by repairers of its vehicles.
(6)
In essence, DaimlerChrysler’s service and parts distribution agreements require the members of its authorised networks to carry out a full range of brand-specific repair services, and act as spare parts wholesalers. The Commission is concerned that possible negative effects stemming from such agreements could be strengthened by DaimlerChrysler’s failure to provide independent repairers with appropriate access to technical information thereby foreclosing firms which would be willing and able to offer repair services through a different business model.
(7)
The Commission’s preliminary conclusion was that DaimlerChrysler’s arrangements for providing its technical information to independent repairers did not correspond to the latters’ needs either as regards the scope of the information available or as regards its accessibility, and that such a practice, in combination with similar practices by other car manufacturers, could have contributed to a decline in the market position of independent repairers. In turn, this could have caused considerable consumer harm in terms of a significant reduction in choice of spare parts, higher prices for repair services, a reduction in choice of repair outlets, potential safety issues, and a lack of access to innovative repair shops.
(8)
Moreover, DaimlerChrysler’s apparent failure to provide independent repairers with appropriate access to technical information might prevent the agreements with its after-sales service partners from benefiting from the exemption granted by Regulation (EC) No 1400/2002, since according to Article 4(2) of the Regulation, the exemption granted therein does not apply where the supplier of motor vehicles refuses to give independent operators access to any technical information, diagnostic and other equipment, tools, including any relevant software, or training required for the repair and maintenance of these motor vehicles. As clarified in recital 26 of the regulation, the conditions of access must not discriminate between authorised and independent operators.
(9)
Finally, the Commission came to the preliminary view that in the context of lack of access to technical repair information, the agreements between DaimlerChrysler and its authorised repairers were unlikely to benefit from the provision of Article 81(3).
(10)
On 14 February 2007, DaimlerChrysler offered commitments to the Commission in order to meet the competition concerns addressed in the preliminary assessment.
(11)
According to those commitments, the principle determining the scope of the information to be provided is that of non-discrimination between independent and authorised repairers. In this light, DaimlerChrysler will ensure that all technical information, tools, equipment, software and training required for the repair and maintenance of its vehicles which is provided to authorised repairers and/or independent importers of its Mercedes-Benz and Smart brands in any EU Member State by or on behalf of DaimlerChrysler is also made available to independent repairers.
(12)
The commitments specify that ‘technical information’ within the meaning of Article 4(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1400/2002 includes all information provided to authorised repairers for the repair or maintenance of Mercedes-Benz and Smart motor vehicles. Particular examples include software, fault codes and other parameters, together with updates, which are required to work on electronic control units (ECUs) with a view to introducing or restoring settings recommended by DaimlerChrysler, vehicle identification methods, parts catalogues, working solutions resulting from practical experience and relating to problems typically affecting a given model or batch, and recall notices as well as other notices identifying repairs that may be carried out without charge within the authorised repair network.
(13)
Access to tools includes access to electronic diagnostic and other repair tools, together with related software, including periodic updates thereof, and after-sales services for such tools.
(14)
The commitments shall bind DaimlerChrysler and its connected undertakings but shall not be directly binding on independent importers of the Mercedes-Benz and Smart brands. DaimlerChrysler has therefore agreed that in those Member States in which DaimlerChrysler distributes Mercedes-Benz and/or Smart vehicles via independent importers, it will make its best efforts to contractually oblige these undertakings to make available to independent repairers free of charge and in a non-discriminatory way through their national commercial websites any given piece of technical information or language version of such information that the importer in question has provided to authorised repairers in the Member State for which it has been appointed and that is not available to independent repairers on the TI website.
(15)
According to recital 26 of Regulation (EC) No 1400/2002, DaimlerChrysler is not obliged to provide independent repairers with technical information that would enable a third party to bypass or disarm on-board anti-theft devices and/or recalibrate (3) electronic devices, or to tamper with devices which limit a vehicle’s performance. As with any exception under EU law, recital 26 is to be interpreted narrowly. The commitments note that if DaimlerChrysler were to invoke this exception as a reason for withholding any technical information from independent repairers, it has committed itself to ensure that the information withheld is limited to that necessary to provide the protection described in recital 26, and that the lack of the information in question does not prevent independent repairers from carrying out operations other than those listed in recital 26, including work on devices such as engine management ECUs, airbags, seatbelt pre-tensioners, or central locking elements.
(16)
Article 4(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1400/2002 provides that technical information must be made available in a way that is proportionate to independent repairers’ needs. This implies both unbundling of information and pricing that takes account of the extent to which independent repairers use the information
(17)
In line with this principle, the commitments specify that DaimlerChrysler will include on the TI website all technical information relating to models launched after 1996, and will ensure that all updated technical information is on the TI website or on any successor site at all times. However, if certain items of technical information relating to models launched after 1996 or language versions thereof that DaimlerChrysler or its connected undertakings provides to authorised repairers in a given Member State are not available on the TI website, DaimlerChrysler shall be deemed to have complied with the commitments in this respect if it has made the items in question available without undue delay and free of charge to independent repairers on its commercial website in the Member State in question.
(18)
DaimlerChrysler will at all times ensure that the TI website may be easily located and provides an equivalent level of performance to the methods used for providing technical information to members of its authorised networks. When DaimlerChrysler or another undertaking acting on DaimlerChrysler’s behalf makes a piece of technical information available to authorised repairers in a particular EU language, DaimlerChrysler will ensure that this language version of the information is placed on the TI website without undue delay.
(19)
DaimlerChrysler has set the yearly access fees for the TI website at EUR 1 254 (EUR 1 239 for access to the main section known as WIS net; the electronic parts catalogue net is free of charge except for a yearly contribution towards administrative expenses of EUR 15). However, in order to respect the proportionality requirement laid down in the regulation, DaimlerChrysler agrees to provide for a pro rata breakdown for WIS net access into monthly, weekly, daily, and hourly time windows at a price of EUR 180, EUR 70, EUR 20, and EUR 4, respectively. DaimlerChrysler agrees to maintain this access fee structure, and not to increase fee levels above the average inflation rate within the EU during the whole currency of the commitments.
(20)
DaimlerChrysler’s commitments are without prejudice to any current or future requirement established by Community or national law which might extend the scope of the technical information that DaimlerChrysler is to provide to independent operators and/or might set out more favourable ways for such information to be provided.
(21)
If an independent repairer or association of such repairers so requests, DaimlerChrysler has committed itself to accept arbitration for settling disputes relating to the provision of technical information. This arbitration shall be governed by the national rules of arbitration and the substantive law that DaimlerChrysler has contractually agreed upon with its authorised repairers in the Member State where the requesting party is located. DaimlerChrysler commits itself to provide information on these rules upon request. The arbitral tribunal shall consist of three arbitrators appointed in accordance with these Rules. Arbitration will not prejudice any right to file an application with the competent national court.
(22)
The Decision finds that, in view of the commitments, there are no longer grounds for action by the Commission. The commitments will be binding until 31 May 2010.
(23)
The Advisory Committee on Restrictive Practices and Dominant Positions issued a favourable opinion on 9 July 2007.