VW Appeal Against Antitrust Fine Rejected

Volkswagen AG, Europe's largest carmaker, had its appeal against a €90 million ($102 million) fine imposed by the European Commission for antitrust violations rejected by the European Court of Justice on Wednesday. The Luxembourg-based court said in a 36-page ruling that VW had broken free-trade laws by refusing to sell cars to German and Austrian buyers seeking lower prices in Italy, stating the company “implemented a policy of imposing supply quotas on Italian dealers with the express aim of blocking re-exports from Italy and thus of partitioning the Italian market.” This resulted in “restricting competition within the community,” the court said. The fine was imposed in 1998 after German and Austrian consumers complained to the Commission.