The Norwegian competition authority, Konkurransetilsynet, has announced that it will investigate Eviny's acquisition of Mer to determine whether it could weaken competition in the market for fast charging of electric vehicles.

Publicly available charging infrastructure for electric vehicles is crucial for many car owners in Norway and for the transition to zero-emission vehicles. Eviny Elektrifisering and Mer Norway are among the largest charging operators in Norway, owning and operating fast and rapid chargers across large parts of the country. In several areas where the companies currently compete, there are few alternative charging operators.

Ingvild Nordtveit, project manager at Konkurransetilsynet, emphasized the importance of access to publicly available fast and rapid chargers for many electric vehicle owners. She warned that if competition in the market weakens, it could lead to higher prices, lower quality, and a slower pace of expansion.

To assess the competitive effects of the acquisition, Konkurransetilsynet has gathered information from both Eviny and Mer, as well as other market participants. The authority has issued a notice to the companies indicating that the acquisition requires further investigation.

Marita Mæland Skjæveland, head of the department for construction, industry, and energy, stated that a thorough evaluation of how the acquisition may affect competition will be conducted before any decision on intervention can be made.

For updated information on the merger process, visit the merger section of Konkurransetilsynet's website.