The Stockholm City Court today acquitted Bilia Personbilar and the other seven Volvo dealers in Skåne and Blekinge from charges of suspected illegal price collaboration during the period 1998–2002.
The case began with a so-called dawn raid on Bilia Syd and other Volvo dealers on 10 December 2002. The Swedish Competition Authority then initiated proceedings against them in March 2004. It initially demanded that Bilia Personbilar should be required to pay competition damages of SEK 121.7 M, a sum which was reduced to SEK 55.3 M just before the main hearing.
The Swedish Competition Authority’s action was dismissed in its entirety. Bilia and the other dealers that are involved were awarded compensation for their legal costs.
Commenting on the decision, Bilia’s CEO, Jan Pettersson, had the following to say.
"Even though we knew that our customers had not suffered, this has been a worrying period that has taken up a large amount of time and energy. The city court’s decision therefore comes as a great relief.
“We are currently paying even more attention to the current regulations and have intensified our training of the relevant staff.”
Göteborg, 7 June 2006
Bilia AB (publ)
For further information, please contact Bilia’s managing director, Jan Pettersson, on +46 31 709 55 00.
