On 2 June 2017, pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004, Hitachi Automotive Systems Ltd (‘HIAMS’, Japan) and Honda Motor Co., Ltd (‘Honda’, Japan) sent to the European Commission a prior notification of a concentration. The undertakings intend to acquire, pursuant to article 3(4) of the Merger Regulation, the joint control over a joint venture by way of a purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting the joint venture.

HIAMS is active in the production and supply of automotive products and technologies, while Honda produces and distributes automobiles, motorcycles and power products. The new joint venture will be active in the production and supply of electric motors in Japan, China and the United States of America.

The European Commission carried out a preliminary examination of the proposed concentration and found that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the Merger Regulation. The final decision has not yet been adopted.

Davide Scavuzzo