In a bit hit to customers, India's largest auto maker Maruti has been found depriving buyers of discount from dealers as it colluded with dealers. Anti trust body CCI has fined Maruti Rs 200 cr for having a ‘Discount Control Policy’ with dealers.
CCI found that Maruti 'discouraged' dealers from giving extra discounts, freebies, etc. to the consumers and if they did not agree Maruti threatened them with imposition of penalty, not only upon the dealership, but also upon its individual persons.
To make matters worse Maruti would send executives 'undercover' as customers to dealerships to ensure that the ‘Discount Control Policy’ was being implemented.
Competition Commission in an order released on Monday has penalised the automaker as it is in clear violation of the Competition Act, 2002.