Car dealers case. More than 160,000 signed up to the legal action brought by OCU

Madrid, 29 October, 2015.  OCU is pushing forward with a pioneer legal action in Spain against most car sales companies in the automobile market. This is a collective action in defence of those affected by the anticompetitive actions carried out by the majority of car makers and car dealers in our country. This action aims to ensure that buyers of vehicles are compensated for the losses suffered. To do this, OCU can count on a team of experts in competition law and collective actions.

The National Commission for Competition and Markets (CNMC) has declared as proven the existence of what is known as a "cartel" (a secret agreement between competitors to prevent competition in the market, benefiting all the participating companies, but to the detriment of all car buyers, and the economy in general). This cartel has operated among most car companies operating in Spain between the years 2006 to 2013. The CNMC has imposed heavy sanctions amounting to millions of euros in various judgements against the members of the cartel for violating free competition.

Now it is the turn of thousands of consumers, who can legally claim compensation for the price they overpaid when buying their car, as a result of this behaviour which goes against competition law.

To date, more than 160,000 consumers have contacted OCU to inquire about this case. OCU is seeking fair compensation for the losses suffered by consumers. Of those consumers who have contacted OCU, more than 70,000 are eligible to be considered as having been affected, since they are customers of car dealers and makes which have been sanctioned.

In order to do do this, OCU will begin a pioneering action in Spain, which in terms of the number of people potentially affected, could become one of the largest in history. It will also be the first legal action presented in Spain, following the approval, now almost a year ago, of the new European Directive on Damages.

OCU calls on all those who may have been affected as a consequence of the cartel to use the application on our website to check if they meet the conditions necessary to be considered affected and receive information about the details of the case. In this way they can evaluate whether they wish to go to court to claim their compensation. Finally OCU reminds everyone that the deadline to register for this action ends on 31 October.

For more information (media) Eva Jimenez Tel. 917 226 061 prensa@ocu.org