The Danish Competition Council: Autobutler has infringed competition law

The Danish Competition Council (DCC) has adopted a decision stating that Autobutler has infringed section 6(1) in the Danish Competition Act, and TFEU Article 101(1). The Council has ordered Autobutler to cease its conduct and to refrain from similar conduct in the future.

Autobutler offers a digital platform that functions as a market place for online quotes on service and auto repairs. The platform connects car owners with auto repair shops by allowing car owners to get quotes from auto repair shops for all types of auto repairs. Autobutler is also present in France, Germany, Sweden and Great Britain. The decision only concerns Denmark.

Autobutler and several hundred auto repair shops have agreed on taking fixed prices on specific services. The conduct took place in the period 30 March 2016 until 27 October 2021, and regarded at least 9 types of services: air conditioning service with or without cleaning, basic service, car check, brakes, wheel change with or without storage, oil change and check prior period vehicle inspection.

The agreement may have lead to consumers having paid a higher price than they would have done otherwise. This has weakened the competition between the auto repair shops.

On January 2021, the Danish Competition and Consumer Authority (DCCA) received a complaint from a car owner who had received 10 identical offers in connection with an inquiry on Autobutler’s platform. Subsequently, the DCCA carried out a dawn raid where the DCCA also secured Autobutler’s data base which contained information on all bids submitted over a period of more than ten years. The DCCA was thus able to identify the offers made with fixed prices.

For further information

Please contact Head of Communications, Hanne Arentoft, phone +45 41 71 50 98.