Google has lost a significant antitrust battle in the EU regarding its Android Auto platform, a decision that could set a precedent for how dominant tech companies manage access to their platforms. The EU’s top court sided with the Italian antitrust authority, ruling that Google’s refusal to allow Enel’s JuicePass app on Android Auto could be an abuse of market power. This decision stems from a 2021 case where the Italian watchdog fined Google 102 million euros ($106.7 million) for blocking Enel’s JuicePass, an e-mobility app, from its Android Auto platform. Android Auto allows drivers to use apps for navigation, messaging, and other services through their car dashboards.

The core of the dispute revolved around Google’s decision to block Enel’s JuicePass, which enables drivers to locate and reserve charging stations for electric vehicles. Google cited security concerns and the absence of a specific template for JuicePass as reasons for the block. However, the Italian antitrust authority challenged this justification, leading to the EU court referral. The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) backed the Italian regulator, stating that a dominant company refusing to ensure its platform is interoperable with another company’s app, thereby making it more attractive, can be considered abusive.

While the court acknowledged that companies can justify their refusal if there isn’t a template for the app category and interoperability would compromise the platform’s security, it emphasized that the dominant company must develop a template within a reasonable period. Google stated that it has since launched the feature Enel requested, noting that at the time of the request, it was relevant for only 0.04% of cars in Italy. A Google spokesperson stated, “We prioritize building the features drivers need most because we believe that innovation should be driven by user demand, not specific companies’ requests”.

The ruling is final and cannot be appealed. The Italian Council of State will now have to rule on Google’s appeal in accordance with the CJEU judgment. Although Google has resolved the specific issue with Enel’s JuicePass, this judgment could significantly influence how dominant companies handle interoperability and access to their platforms in the future. Experts suggest that this ruling could potentially fast-track interoperability requests and impact Big Tech companies beyond just this specific case.