Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.9180 — Volkswagen/Daimler/HeyCar) — Candidate case for simplified procedure (Text with EEA relevance.)
Date: 2019-01-04
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: economic concentration, electronic commerce, financial services, hire purchase, merger control, motor vehicle industry, trade intermediary, used goods, vehicle parts








C_2019002EN.01000301.xml










4.1.2019   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 2/3






Prior notification of a concentration
(Case M.9180 — Volkswagen/Daimler/HeyCar)
Candidate case for simplified procedure
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2019/C 2/03)

1.   
On 19 December 2018, 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:






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Volkswagen Financial Services AG (‘VWFS’, Germany), controlled by Volkswagen AG (‘Volkswagen’);










—


Leonie FS DVB GmbH (‘DFS’, Germany), controlled by Daimler AG (‘Daimler’);










—


Mobility Trader Holding GmbH (‘MTH’, Germany), controlled by Volkswagen Group, operating under the marketing name HeyCar.




DFS acquires, within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and 3(4) of the Merger Regulation, joint control of MTH, together with VWFS.
The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of assets.


2.   
The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:






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Volkswagen is globally active in the manufacture and sale of motor vehicles, including related spare parts and accessories, diesel engines and motorcycles. Volkswagen also provides financial services, including financing, leasing, insurance, fleet management services and mobility solutions.










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Daimler is globally active in the manufacture and sale of motor vehicles, mainly passenger cars, trucks, vans and buses. Its product portfolio also includes financing and leasing packages for dealers and customers, as well as financial services such as insurance brokerage, investment products, credit cards, and full fleet management and leasing services.










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MTH provides dealers and consumers in Germany with an online platform called HeyCar for the sale and purchase of high quality used cars.










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HeyCar is also active as an intermediary for automotive financing opportunities.






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:
M.9180 — Volkswagen/Daimler/HeyCar
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.