The Bundeskartellamt has cleared the merger between Europcar SA, Paris, and the Buchbinder group, Regensburg.

Both companies are active in the car rental sector, in particular in the short-term rental of cars, vans and trucks to private and commercial customers. Buchbinder is also active in the sale of second-hand vehicles.

The examination of the case took account of the fact that the German car rental market is a very heterogeneous market. Apart from some larger suppliers there are numerous regional suppliers. Commercial and private customers represent different customer groups, and cars, vans and trucks are different products. This could justify the definition of separate markets.

Andreas Mundt, President of the Bundeskartellamt: "The concentration will not lead to the creation of a dominant position in any of the markets defined. Strong competitors and other factors made it unlikely that effective competition would be significantly impeded.