The motor vehicle sector is an important one, both from the point of view of the economy as a whole and the individual consumer. DG Competition’s work in this sector includes market monitoring, competition advocacy as well as enforcement in individual cases in the merger, state aids and anti-trust fields.
These web pages mainly contain information on the Commission’s antitrust activities in the sector. You will also find details of the applicable legislation, information on cases of relevance to the sector, as well as the Commission’s reports on car prices across the EU, and other relevant documents.
Links are also provided to information on mergers and state aid in the sector.
Car manufacturers’ contact points
List of contact points 
set up by car manufacturers to help consumers that encounter difficulties when trying to buy a vehicle.
Other Commission pages on motor vehicles
This site relates to the Commission’s activities in the field of competition. Other Commission departments deal with other aspects of EU policy relating to motor vehicles. If you require information on these aspects, please visit the relevant pages at DG Enterprise, DG Environment and DG Transport.
The activities of the Commission’s competition department in the antitrust field involve the application of Articles 101, 102 and 106 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (“TFEU”).
Vertical agreements in the motor vehicle sector may also benefit from “block exemption”. This is a safe harbour that exempts a whole category of motor vehicle distribution and repair agreements from the prohibition laid down in Article 101(1) TFEU.
Agreements can benefit from block exemption under Commission Regulation 330/2010 or Commission Regulation 461/2010 so long as they do not contain any serious restrictions of competition and also meet the other conditions laid down by the relevant Regulation. One of the tasks of the competition department is to monitor the application of these rules. It does so in close liaison with the competition authorities of the Member States.
Block Exemption Regulations
- Commission Regulation 330/2010 of 20 April 2010 on the application of Article 101(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to categories of vertical agreements and concerted practices
Official Journal L 102, 23.4.2010, p.1-7 - Commission Regulation 461/2010 on the application of Article 101(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to categories of vertical agreements and concerted practices in the motor vehicle sectorCorrigendum to the Finnish version – Official Journal C301 of 18.11.2010, p.20
Corrigendum to the Italian version – Official Journal L148 of 07.06.2011, p.20Press release – Memo - The provisions of Commission Regulation 1400/2002 on vertical agreements for the purchase, sale or resale of new motor vehicles still apply until 31 May 2013.
Commission Guidelines
- Commission notice – Guidelines on Vertical Restraints
Official Journal C 130, 19.05.2010, p. 1 - Commission notice – Supplementary guidelines on vertical restraints in agreements for the sale and repair of motor vehicles and for the distribution of spare parts for motor vehicles
Official Journal C138, 28.5.2010, p.16.
Frequently asked questions on the application of EU antitrust rules in the motor vehicle sector
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Other legal texts useful for assessing vertical agreements in the motor vehicles sector
- Commission Regulation 330/2010 of 20 April 2010 on the application of Article 101(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to categories of vertical agreements and concerted practices.
Official Journal L 102, 23.4.2010, p.1-7 - Commission notice – Guidelines on Vertical Restraints
Official Journal C 130, 19.05.2010, p. 1 - Commission notice on the definition of the relevant market for the purposes of Community competition law
Official Journal: OJ C 372 09.12.1997, p. 5-13. - Commission Notice on agreements of minor importance which do not appreciably restrict competition under Article 81(1) of the Treaty establishing the European Community (de minimis)
Official Journal C 368, 22.12.2001, pages 13-15 - Communication from the Commission – Notice – Guidelines on the application of Article 81(3) of the Treaty
Official Journal C 101, 27.04.2004, pages 97- 118 - Commission Notice – Guidelines on the effect on trade concept contained in Articles 81 and 82 of the Treaty
Official Journal C 101, 27.04.2004, pages 81-96
Archive
This archive contains legislation no longer in force, as well as documents from the legislative process leading to the adoption of Regulation 1400/2002 and of Regulation 461/2010.
Motor vehiclesCases > Judgments of the European courtsIn this section you can find selected judgments of the European courts concerning the application of Articles 101 and 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (formerly 81 and 82 EC Treaty) in the motor vehicle sector: Judgments of the Court of Justice/from 2000 to date
Judgments of the Court of Justice/1999-1990
Judgments of the Court of Justice/1989-1980
Judgments of the Court of Justice/1979-1970
Judgments of the Court of First Instance/from 2000 to date
Judgments of the Court of First Instance/1999-1990
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The motor vehicle sector is an important one, both from the point of view of the economy as a whole and the individual consumer. DG Competition’s work in this sector includes market monitoring, competition advocacy as well as enforcement in individual cases in the merger, state aids and anti-trust fields.
These web pages mainly contain information on the Commission’s antitrust activities in the sector. You will also find details of the applicable legislation, information on cases of relevance to the sector, as well as the Commission’s reports on car prices across the EU, and other relevant documents.
Links are also provided to information on mergers and state aid in the sector.
Car manufacturers’ contact points
List of contact points set up by car manufacturers to help consumers that encounter difficulties when trying to buy a vehicle.
Other Commission pages on motor vehicles
This site relates to the Commission’s activities in the field of competition. Other Commission departments deal with other aspects of EU policy relating to motor vehicles. If you require information on these aspects, please visit the relevant pages at DG Enterprise, DG Environment and DG Transport.