The Competition Commission of India (CCI) revealed that major smartphone companies, including Samsung, Xiaomi, and others, colluded with e-commerce giants Amazon and Flipkart to launch exclusive products on these platforms, violating antitrust laws, Reuters reports.
The investigations found that Amazon and Flipkart favored certain sellers, prioritized specific listings, and offered significant discounts, disadvantaging other companies and violating competition laws. The CCI reports, which have not been publicly released, indicate that exclusive phone launches were part of a collusive practice between the e-commerce firms and several smartphone manufacturers, including Samsung, Xiaomi, Motorola, Realme, and OnePlus.
These findings could lead to significant legal and compliance challenges for the companies involved, potentially resulting in fines and required changes in business practices. The investigation was prompted by complaints from India’s largest retailer association.
