Spain: Self-service gas stations push back against ‘unfair’ restrictions

Manuel Jiménez, president of the National Association for Automated Service Stations (AESAE) has referred to various regulations, which prohibit the establishment of fully-automated gas-stations, “unfair”. However, he trusts that with the support of the country’s market regulator, the CNMC, they will soon be able to expand their activities.

Spanish competition authorities have issued a recent report, in which they find that these fully-automated establishment face a series of local regulations which “unnecessarily or disproportionately curtail the companies’ freedom, as well as consumers’ freedom of choice, thus harming the general interest.” The report has been met with a strong backlash from various political groups and consumer advocacy associations.

“Objections over issues with disabled customers, safety concerns or the destruction of jobs are all excuses for cheapskates” said Jimenez on behalf of AESAE, which represents around 50% of Spain’s 300 self-service, completely automated refuelling stations. AESAE believes that the aim of these various local restrictions is a coordinated effort to clip the wings of a growing sector, which has already established itself in other European countries, with over 12,000 such stations throughout the continent.

Full Content: Yahoo Finance

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