Google Loses EU Court Case Over Android Auto Antitrust Violations

Google has lost a legal battle after the European Court of Justice (ECJ) upheld an Italian antitrust ruling, which found the company guilty of abusing its market dominance by restricting third-party access to Android Auto.

The ruling confirms a €102 million fine imposed on Google in 2021 for blocking Enel X’s e-The verdict supports a 2021 decision by Italy’s competition authority, which fined Google €102 million for preventing Enel X’s e-mobility app, JuicePass, from integrating with Android Auto.

The case originated when Enel X, an Italian energy company, accused Google of unfairly limiting competition by barring its JuicePass app—a service designed to help electric vehicle (EV) users locate and manage charging stations—from operating on Android Auto.

The Italian antitrust body ruled that Google’s restrictions unfairly favoured its own services, harming competition in the growing EV infrastructure sector.

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Google defended its decision by citing platform security and user safety concerns. However, the ECJ ruled that denying interoperability to a third-party app constitutes an abuse of market dominance unless it poses legitimate risks to security or system integrity. The court’s decision reinforces stricter oversight of tech giants in the European Union, ensuring that dominant platforms do not stifle competition through restrictive access policies.

In response, Google has since updated its Android Auto platform to allow greater third-party integration, including support for apps like JuicePass. However, the company maintained its disagreement with the original ruling, arguing that its policies were designed to enhance user safety rather than hinder competition.