The Application of Competition Law to the Automotive Industry

Anne C. Wegner and Sophie Oberhammer both with Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH survey The Application of Competition Law to the Automotive Industry.

ABSTRACT: The European Commission has investigated an unprecedented number of cartels targeting car part manufacturers, and dealers have come under review by national competition authorities for horizontal practices. In relation to mergers, the European Commission continues to review numerous cases and seems to broaden geographic market definition for spare parts production in the future. National courts clarified their interpretation of antitrust law, ruling in particular on access to network claims, thereby partly diverging from the European Commission's preferred (brand-specific) market definition for the aftermarkets. As regards access to technical information, the European Commission published an external study proposing Best Practice Guidelines and the German industry association of independent parts dealers has taken court action for the release of additional data.