Prior notification of a concentration

(Case M.9572 – BMW/Daimler/Ford/Porsche/Hyundai/Kia/IONITY)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2020/C 268/06)

1. On 7 August 2020, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 ( 1 ) This notification concerns the following undertakings: — BMW AG (‘BMW’, Germany), — Daimler AG (‘Daimler’, Germany), — Ford Motor Company (‘Ford’, USA), — Dr Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft (‘Porsche’, Germany). Porsche is part of the Volkswagen Group, — Hyundai Motor Company (‘Hyundai’, South Korea), which indirectly controls Kia Motor Corporation (‘Kia’, South Korea). Hyundai and Kia (together ‘Hyundai’) both belong to the Hyundai Motor Group (South Korea). BMW, Daimler, Ford, Porsche and Hyundai acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and Article 3(4) of the Merger Regulation joint control of the whole of IONITY Holding GmbH & Co. KG (‘IONITY’, Germany), a full function joint venture established in 2017 by BMW, Daimler, Ford and Porsche. The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares.

2. The business activities of the undertakings concerned are: — for BMW: is globally active in the development, production and marketing of passenger cars and motorbikes. BMW and its affiliates also provide financial services for private and business customers, — for Daimler: is globally active in the development, manufacturing and sale of passenger cars and commercial vehicles. Provision of automotive financial services, including financial, leasing, insurance and fleet management services, — for Ford: is globally active in the development, manufacturing and distribution of passenger cars and commercial vehicles and provision of related financial services and leasing options, — for Porsche: is globally active in designing, manufacturing and distributing high-performance sports cars, SUVs and sedans. Porsche is part of the Volkswagen Group. The activities of Volkswagen Group include the design, manufacture, supply and distribution of passenger and light commercial vehicles, trucks, buses, motorbikes and spare parts as well as related financial, insurance and banking services, — for Hyundai: globally active in the manufacturing of motor vehicles. Hyundai also offers financial services through its subsidiary Hyundai Capital Services Inc. Hyundai and Kia manufacture motor vehicles primarily in South Korea and distribute them globally. Hyundai Capital Services Inc. mainly promotes the sale of vehicles through financing services offered in Canada, China, Germany, the UK and the US, — for IONITY: is active across Europe in installing, operating and maintaining a publicly accessible high-power charging infrastructure for battery-electric vehicles along motorways and trunk roads in Europe.

3. On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under the Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice.

4. The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission. Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. The following reference should always be specified: Case M.9572 – BMW/Daimler/Ford/Porsche/Hyundai/Kia/IONITY Observations can be sent to the Commission by email, by fax, or by post. Please use the contact details below: Email: COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu Fax +32 22964301 Postal address: European Commission Directorate-General for Competition Merger Registry 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel BELGIQUE/BELGIË

(1) OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the ‘Merger Regulation’).

(2) OJ C 366, 14.12.2013, p. 5.