CECRA, the European Council for Motor Trades and Repairs, has applauded a significant ruling by the Austrian Cartel Court, which found Peugeot Austria (PSA) guilty of abusing market power.
It said the decision is a major victory for dealerships and a critical step towards addressing unfair practices by manufacturers across Europe.
The case was initiated by Austrian Peugeot dealer Büchl, who exposed harmful practices by PSA that placed undue economic pressure on its authorised dealers.
The court determined that several of PSA’s practices violated both Austrian and EU competition laws, including inflated sales targets and tying dealer bonuses to customer satisfaction surveys.
The ruling prohibits Peugeot Austria from forcing dealers to participate in new sales promotions and restricting their ability to set prices.
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