German Regulator Concludes Google In-Car Services Investigation
BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's Federal Cartel Office has closed proceedings into Google's automotive services after the U.S. tech giant committed to remedies addressing its concerns over competition, the regulator said on Wednesday.
"I am delighted that we have been able to reach an agreement with Google and thus achieve immediate positive effects for the economic sectors affected. Google's commitments have the potential to bring about far-reaching changes in the market," cartel office president Andreas Mundt said in a statement.
The office had previously expressed concerns over the company's in-car maps and infotainment systems due to their bundled form, which it said could impede competitors' chances of selling similar services individually.
In December 2023, around six months after the regulator raised these concerns and a potential ban, Google sought to dispel them by proposing measures that would allow the use of competitors' maps and apps within its platform.
(Reporting by Rachel More, Editing by Miranda Murray)
