By Mauro Orru
Italy’s competition watchdog opened an investigation into whether Germany’s Robert Bosch abused its position in the market for e-bikes propulsion and braking systems.
The Italian Competition Authority, or AGCM, said Monday that its probe would focus on whether the engineering and technology conglomerate made its propulsion systems incompatible with the antilock braking system, or ABS, manufactured by Italy’s Blubrake.
The antilock braking system is a technology that prevents the wheels from locking up during hard braking, giving the rider better control over the bike while slowing down.
The watchdog said a decision to make the two systems incompatible would effectively harm what it called Bosch’s only developing competitor in Europe’s ABS market for e-bikes, dealing a blow to the principle of fair competition.
A Bosch spokesman confirmed that the AGCM had opened an investigation into its Bosch eBike Systems division. “One of our most important principles is to comply with the law. Bosch is cooperating with the authorities,” he said.
Write to Mauro Orru at [email protected]; @MauroOrru94
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