As alleged in the petition, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has rejected the claims that Ford India has abused dominant position in 'multi/sport utility vehicles' market. As per the order given out by CCI recently, “The issue of abuse of dominance by the Opposite Parties (Ford India and its authorized dealer Harpreet Motors Pvt Ltd) does not arise and no case of contravention of provisions... of the Act (Competition) is made out against them.” The case against the dealers and Ford India have been closed.
As per the complaint filed by an individual named Sanjay Kumar, Ford India has abused it dominant position in 'multi/sports utility vehicle in India' by reportedly hiking the price of its vehicle. He reportedly had booked 1.5 Liter Ford Ecosport Ambiente Petrol version in June last year by paying a deposit amount of Rs. 50,000. Back then, the dealer Harpreet Motors stated that they would deliver the vehicle in about five months. But later in December, Kumar received a letter from Ford India that the vehicle would be delivered by February end this year, but the price would be revised as per new policy with price hike that would start from January, 2014 due to macro-economic factors and rising input costs. The car which cost about Rs 5.59 lakh at the time of booking would now cost about Rs 6.19 lakh due to new policy.
The CCI stated, “it is evident that the informant (Kumar), if so desired, could cancel the booking and the entire booking amount is to be refunded immediately after waving of the cancellation charges. In these circumstances, no case, whatsoever, is made out against any of the Opposite Parties and the issues projected by the Informant at best appear to be purely consumer /contractual dispute, remedies whereof lie elsewhere.”
