Brazil: CADE recommends action vs Volkswagen, Fiat and Ford over competition barriers
Brazilian antitrust authorities have released an Official Recommendation, asking for investigations to begin on international carmakers Volkswagen do Brasil, Industria de Veículos Automotivos Ltda, Fiat and the Ford Motor Company Brasil, over alleged violations of fair competition laws in the replacement auto parts market.
The carmakers enjoy strong property rights over the design and supply of replacement parts for their vehicles, which have normally been filed under the country’s Industrial Property laws. However, Brazilian competition authority CADE’s ruling body has said it now considers these restrictions to be an unfair barrier, blocking independent manufacturers from designing and selling their own replacement parts, which could be considered an abuse of intellectual property for anti-competitive ends.
In CADE’s opinion, the carmakers’ actions may have excluded thousands of independent manufacturers, effectively giving each company a monopoly on available replacements. this situation could have led to unnecessarily high prices for consumers, as fewer choices are made available for replacing parts such as wing-mirrors, bumpers or headlights. Should the investigation uncover any wrongdoing the companies are subject to fines or other corrective measures.
Full Content: CADE
Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.
Featured News
European Music Streaming Firms Rally Against Apple’s Proposed Remedies
May 9, 2024 by
CPI
Google and South Carolina Clash Over State Records Demand
May 8, 2024 by
CPI
Telefonica Germany Teams Up with Amazon Web Services to Migrate 5G Customers
May 8, 2024 by
CPI
Federal Judge Grants $7.4 Million Settlement in Pork Price-Fixing Case
May 8, 2024 by
CPI
Wilson Sonsini Bolsters Antitrust and Competition Practice with Key Partner Returns
May 8, 2024 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – Economics of Criminal Antitrust
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
Navigating Economic Expert Work in Criminal Antitrust Litigation
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
The Increased Importance of Economics in Cartel Cases
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
A Law and Economics Analysis of the Antitrust Treatment of Physician Collective Price Agreements
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
Information Exchange In Criminal Antitrust Cases: How Economic Testimony Can Tip The Scales
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI