The Belgian Competition Authority (BCA) has opened formal proceedings against AutoScout24 in connection with alleged anti-competitive practices in the online market for second-hand vehicles.
The investigation follows a complaint alleging that the company, which operates the platform AutoScout24.be, may have imposed limitations on the portability of data entered by professional car sellers. AutoScout24 provides intermediation services connecting sellers of used vehicles with potential buyers through its online portal and mobile application.
According to the complaint, restrictions affecting the transfer of data from the platform could discourage professional sellers from listing vehicles on competing marketplaces at the same time, a practice known as multi-homing. Such limitations could potentially hinder the development of rival platforms.
After a preliminary assessment of the complaint and evidence collected by its Prosecution and Investigation Service, the BCA’s Prosecutor General concluded that there are serious indications of a possible infringement of competition rules prohibiting abuse of a dominant position under Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and Article IV.2 of the Belgian Code of Economic Law. On this basis, the authority has decided to open a formal investigation under Article IV.39, 2° of the Code of Economic Law.
The case, registered under reference CONC-RPR-26-0011, concerns practices in the digital sector, which remains one of the enforcement priorities of the BCA. The authority stressed that the opening of proceedings does not prejudge the outcome of the investigation, which remains at a preliminary stage, and that AutoScout24 will be fully involved in the proceedings.