EU raids Renault over malpractices

Brussels, Apr 17: In a new show of force against the auto industry, the European Commission has raided France8217;s Renault for allegedly telling its Irish distributor not to sell new cars to British residents, EU sources said.

New car prices in Britain are the highest in the 15-nation European Union and Britons are increasingly travelling abroad to buy cars at lower prices. EU inspectors raided Renault8217;s French headquarters, the premises of its Irish distributor and several individual dealers on March 24 and 25, said one source, requesting anonymity.

The news follows the Commission8217;s announcement earlier this week that it formally warned US/German auto giant DaimlerChrysler that its sales practices in four European countries were in breach of antitrust rules.