MERGERS: COMMISSION CLEARS CAR DISTRIBUTION JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN DAIMLERCHRYSLER AND MAV
Brussels, 7 June 2005 - The European Commission has cleared under the Eu Merger Regulation a joint venture between Daimlerchrysler Ag of Germany and Mb-automobilvertriebsgesellschaft (Mav) of Austria for the distribution of cars and spare parts on the Hungarian market. The Commission concluded that the transaction will not significantly impede effective competition in the Eea or any substantial part of it. The joint venture Daimlerchrysler Automotive Hungária Kereskedelmi Kft. (Dc Hungária) will be jointly controlled by Daimlerchrysler and Mav. It will operate as a non-exclusive importer of Daimlerchrysler cars and spare parts and accessories for Daimlerchrysler cars to Hungary and organise the distribution of these products to retailers. The Commission concluded that the vertical integration of Daimlerchrysler’s distribution activities in Hungary, formerly carried out by Mav, will not significantly change the competitive situation on the European or Hungarian markets for the production and distribution of cars, since there is a sufficient number of competitors present on these markets. It also concluded that the concentration would not impede competition on the market for the distribution of spare parts and accessories, not the least because the recent Block Exemption Regulation for car distribution (see Ip/02/1073) liberalised the distribution of spare parts, thereby facilitating market entry for new competitors.
