The Belgian car dealership landscape is undergoing a wave of consolidation. A large number of dealer mergers requires approval from the Belgian Competition Authority (BCA). How does the BCA handle these mergers? Is its methodology still aligned with the realities of the sector?

In the latest edition of the journal Competitio (2025/2), our competition partner Herlinde Burez and counsel Mathieu Vancaillie take a critical look at the BCA’s approach to reviewing mergers in the automotive distribution sector. This article offers a deep dive into:
• the legal and economic context of dealer mergers;
• the market definition, including the debate around the existence of system markets or rather separate (and brand-specific?) aftersales markets; and
• the competition analysis.

The authors raise questions about transparency, efficiency, and the need for a broader and realistic perspective in assessing competition risks.

𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝? 👉 Read the full article in Competitio 2025/2, or on our website.

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