AGCM

According to the Competition Authority, the company did not allow electrical and digital interoperability between its drive systems and the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) for electric bicycles produced by Blubrake S.p.A.

The Italian Competition Authority (Agcm) opened an investigation into a possible abuse of dominant position by Robert Bosch GmbH in the European market for drive systems for electric bicycles. In particular, it appears that Bosch did not allow electrical and digital interoperability between its drive systems and the ABS for electric bicycles developed by Blubrake S.p.A., without valid justifications. This behaviour could exclude the only competitor of Bosch from the nascent European market for ABS for electric bicycles and thus adversely affect competition.

In the past few days, the Authority’s officials took part in inspections at the foreign premises of Bosch and other entities deemed to be in possession of relevant evidence, with the assistance of officials from the German and Dutch Competition Authorities. Inspections were also carried out at premises in Italy, with the help of the Special Antitrust Unit of the Italian Finance Police.

Rome, 18 September 2023