Amazon is to open two new logistics centers in Italy this year, investing more than $278 million, the world's largest online retailer said on Monday, despite facing an antitrust inquiry by the European Commission. 

With the two new hubs – a distribution center in the northwestern city Novara and a fulfilment center close to the city of Modena – Amazon will create 1,100 new jobs in the coming three years.

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"Amazon continues to expand its logistics network in order to satisfy the growing demand of clients, widen product selections and support those small and medium enterprises that have decided to sell their products using Amazon logistics," the group said in a statement.

Amazon has already invested almost $7 billion in Italy, since first starting operations 10 years ago. It employs 8,500 people in the country.

The tech giant is also set to bid for the domestic broadcast rights to Italian soccer's top league, Serie A, for the 2021/22 to 2023/24 seasons. The league is expecting bids of at least $1.4 billion a season for the three-year contract. 

Amazon's growing investments in Europe come as the company is under investigation by the European Commission for breaching antitrust rules. In November last year, the Commission claims that the U.S. company used independent sellers' data for its own benefit. 

Amazon responded, stating it disagreed with the commission's claims and "will continue to make every effort to ensure it has an accurate understanding of the facts."