Covering the economic and industrial might of Japan

Unfair!

Toyota Motor Corp has been playing unfair by giving technical info to affiliated shops and not toe independent repair shops.

General Motors Corp., Germany's DaimlerChrysler AG and Italy's Fiat SpA are on the dirt list as well.

The European Commission says there is a price gap between affiliated shops and independent shops.

So, the EU has hammered out some new rules that are expected to level the playing field so that consumers have more choices, thus lowering prices. In short, independent shops must be given technical information also.

So, then...um...what's the benefit of being affiliated with a major car dealer if Toyota, GM and the like are going to be required to give away their technical info for free anyway?

We do like cheaper prices though, don't we?

The EU says that a lack of complete technical info at independent shops could result in safety and environmental problems.

Yeah...right.