The European Commission fined French tyre maker Michelin euro 19.76 million for abusing its dominant position for replacement tyres used on heavy vehicles in France for most of the 1990s.
The Commission said in a statement Michelin's complex system of quantitative rebates, bonuses and other commercial practices illegally tied dealers and closed the French market to other tyre manufacturers.
The Commission said the abuse was particularly serious because it was the second time Michelin had engaged in similar anti-competitive behaviour in Europe.
The Commission said that Michelin's policy for both retread and new replacement tyres kept dealers in close dependence and prevented them from really choosing suppliers freely between 1990 and 1998.
