During the last Auto Show, the Professional Union of Automobile Dealers (SPCA) asked local banks by letter not to process the credit files of a dealer who was not a member of the union. A questionable approach in which the Competition Authority is interested. The affected dealership, which believes it has suffered financial harm, is prepared to pursue the matter in court.
The Professional Union of Automobile Dealers, which brings together the largest importers of fenua, organized the Auto Show at the Mamao exhibition park from September 18 to 22, the first in four years. Dozens of brands on display, and the three local banks which, for the occasion, exceptionally process credit approval files in a few minutes.
The day before the opening, the local banks all received the same letter, signed by the president of the union, Lionel Foissac: “ We have just noticed that an exhibitor who is not a member of the SPCA (e-Motors) has set up illegally without our authorization in the parking lots adjacent to the entrance to the show with the aim of taking advantage of the event that we are organizing to benefit from maximum business at our expense”, he complains. He continues by “wishing”, “given the significant joint investments that we have made (…) that we do not process their files during the Show because this would be to the detriment of our own customers and the quality of the service that we all wish to offer them. »
Car dealerships, a closed club?
At e-Motors, it is claimed that several requests to join the union have been ignored. The young company would not meet the criteria, “but we have not been told what these criteria are, for example in terms of number of employees or turnover” says Mike Alezrah of e-Motors. The company also claims to have suffered a refusal to rent a stand at the show on the grounds that the union, sponsor of the operation, reserved the possibility of exhibiting there only for its members. But the installation of the e-Motors stand – which offered license-free carts, motorcycles and electric scooters during the show – is not “wild”: its manager claims to have rented its location to G2P, as the Syndicate rented his.
Contacted, Lionel Foissac minimized the impact of this letter. A conciliatory meeting was attempted at Medef, of which Mike Alezrah is 2e vice-president and of which the SPCA is also a member. In vain: Steeve Hamblin would have considered that the discussion should be held between peers, owners of the dealerships, and not with their respective directors.
Mike Alezrah is certain that at least one banking establishment followed the “instruction” and thus lost sales. He says he is ready to take the case to court. As for the Polynesian Competition Authority, it decided last week that there was cause for investigation: the pressure put on the banking partners of the historic concessionaires could constitute an abuse of a dominant position.
