The Competition and Market Authority has launched an investigation against eight long-term car rental companies and their Aniasa Association, to ascertain the existence of agreements restricting competition, prohibited by article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. These are Ald Automotive Italia, Alphabet Italia Fleet Management, Arval Service Lease Italia, Europcar Italia, Hertz Italiana, Lease Plan Italia, Maggiore Rent and Win Rent. In 2014, the total value of this market was around 5 billion euros.
The investigation intends to verify whether the companies have implemented a coordination of the respective commercial strategiesthrough an exchange of sensitive information. A coordination role is also envisaged for the trade association Aniasa (National Association of the automotive services and car rental industry). To ascertain these circumstances, AGCM officials today carried out a series of inspections at the offices of the companies involved, with the help of the special Antitrust unit of the Guardia di Finanza.
If the disputes were confirmed, they would reveal an alteration of the competitive dynamics among the major companies in the long-term rental market in Italy. These conducts could be the result of a horizontal understanding, in the form of an agreement or concerted practice, to avoid a correct competitive confrontation between the various operators.
