Madrid, España.- The Spanish National Commission on Competition and Markets (CNMC) fined 171 million euros to twenty companies in the market of distribution, marketing and after-sales servicing of vehicles around the country, act as a cartel.
The penalty also applies to two consultants, according to the Commission, stressing that the cartel behavior is prohibited by the Law on Protection of Competition.
CNMC considers it proven that the sanctioned companies exchanged commercially sensitive and strategic information in the Spanish market for the distribution and after-sales service: sales of new cars, used cars, servicing workshop, repair, maintenance and sale of spare parts officers.
In a footnote, the Commission explains that accredited anti-competitive practices took place in three distinct areas:. business management, sales and marketing
He added that the investigation and punishment of these behaviors was possible thanks to SEAT and the companies forming part of its Group (Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche Cars Spain), which betrayed the cartel and were exempt from penalty.
In particular, the CNMC considered proven one consisting of “the systematic exchange of commercially sensitive confidential information, covering almost all the activities of the undertakings penalized by its network of distribution and sales.”
The combined market share of the brands infringement they have participated in practices which analyzes the disciplinary proceedings represents almost 91% of car distribution in Spain.
The exchanges, adds the Commission, are part of a complex agreement that was developed, depending on companies, from February 2006 to August 2013.
In the inspections carried out by the CNMC at the headquarters of several companies by the end of July 2013 it was obtained documents proving illegal conduct, which is added to that provided by Seat in its request for exemption from payment of the fine.
That lessening of competition “has been transferred to the final consumer in the form of lower discounts, less aggressive trade policies . marks and less effort to distinguish itself from other companies with a quality services “
Among the sanctioned companies listed Citroën Automobiles Spain (14.76 million euros); BMW Ibérica (8 million); Fiat Group Automobiles Spain (6.96 million); Ford Spain (20.23 million), General Motors (22,820,000); Hyundai Motor Spain (4.41 million) and Kia Motor Iberia (2.07 million)
Also:. Mercedes Benz Spain (2.37 million); Nissan Iberia (3.15 million); Peugeot Spain (15.72 million); Spain Renault Commercial (18.20 million); Toyota Spain (8.65 million euros) and Volvo Car Spain (1.70 million), among others.
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