BMW will have to pay a fine of 135 million in Switzerland for infringing the competition

The German car manufacturer BMW will have to pay in Switzerland a fine of 157 million francs (135.5 million euros) for having infringed the competition rules by means of pacts with concessionaires, said today the Federal Court to reject a resource of the Munich producer.

Geneva, November 10 (EFE) .- The German car manufacturer BMW will have to pay in Switzerland a fine of 157 million francs (135.5 million euros) for having infringed the rules of competition through agreements with concessionaires, said the Federal Court today when rejecting a resource of the Munich producer.

The Competition Commission of Switzerland imposed the fine in 2012 after BMW agreed with its dealers in the European Economic Area not to export cars outside their markets and therefore not to Switzerland, the Swiss agency ATS recalled.

Ello it meant in practice that the Swiss could not buy a BMW or Mini brand car abroad.

According to ATS, the clause that prevents the export of the cars of the German house outside the European Economic Area is under concession contracts since 2003.

The Competition Commission of Switzerland opened an investigation in 2010 against BMW in response to numerous complaints from Swiss customers trying in vain to buy a brand new or Mini car abroad.

Between the autumn of 2010 and 2011 BMW cars they cost in the eurozone on average between 20 and 25% less than in Switzerland.

Due to the strong Swiss franc, Swiss customers could have been saved according to the car model between 7,000 and 42,000 francs (6,040 and 36,240 euros) if they bought it out of the country.

By the prohibition of export clause, the Swiss could not, however, take advantage of the rate of favorable change, for which the Competition Commission fined BMW in May 2012.

This is one of the highest fines that this department has given.