Car dealerships claim Toyota damaged their businesses

Toyota Ireland has said it will "vigorously defend" a legal action launched against it by 15 car dealerships or garages over alleged, anti-competitive behaviour.

In a plenary summons lodged at the High Court, the 15 named dealerships or garages are seeking an injunction against Toyota Ireland and damages, amid claims that their repair and maintenance businesses have been damaged and relationships with long-standing customers adversely affected.

The plenary summons lodged on behalf of the plaintiffs claimed that Toyota Ireland introduced a policy that all its dealerships would not be permitted to stock or sell other brands of new car.