By Edith Hancock

Judges in the EU's Court of Justice have said that Google's refusal to let Enel host an electric-vehicle charging app on its Android Auto platform might break EU competition rules.

The ruling comes after a years-long dispute between the Italian energy company and the tech giant over how it manages access to Android Auto--a platform that lets drivers use smartphone tools like messaging apps while behind the wheel.

Judges said on Tuesday that Google could abuse its dominant position by not making Android Auto inter-operable with an app developed by a third party. Google's practices could be justified if there is no pre-existing template for the category of apps concerned and creating one would compromise the platform's or if it is technically impossible to create one, the judges said, adding that otherwise the tech company should create a template that rivals can access.

Enel complained to Italy's competition regulator in 2019, saying that Google was blocking its access to Android Auto. The watchdog fined Google 102 million euros ($106.7 million) two years later, saying the company abused its dominant position in app distribution by keeping Enel out. Google later challenged that decision, prompting judges in Italy to ask the EU court for clarification on how competition law applies to digital platforms like Android Auto.

Google's owner Alphabet and Enel did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Write to Edith Hancock at edith.hancock@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 25, 2025 03:55 ET (08:55 GMT)

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