EU fines six car cooling system suppliers 155 mln euros (updated)
08/03/2017 13:07
(Adds further details of cartel)
By Foo Yun Chee
BRUSSELS, March 8 (Reuters) - Germany's Mahle Behr
BEHR.UL , Japan's Denso 6902.T and four other car part makers
have been fined a total of 155 million euros ($163.6 million) by
the European Union's competition authorities for having operated
cartels in a number of their markets.
The ruling by the European Commission is the sixth to be
made since it started investigating the automotive components
industry several years ago. The four cartels identified on
Wednesday related to air conditioning and engine cooling systems
which operated until 2009 and started as early as 2004.
Mahle Behr was fined 62.1 million euros while Japan's Sanden
6444.T has to pay 64.6 million euros and Denso 6902.T
322,000 euros.
The penalty imposed on French company Valeo VLOF.PA is
26.7 million euros and Calsonic 7248.T must pay 1.7 million
euros. Panasonic 6752.T avoided a fine as it alerted the
Commmission to one of the cartels. All the companies admitted
wrongdoing in return for a 10 percent reduction in their fines.
The cartels affected carmakers Volkswagen VOWG_p.DE , BMW
BMWG.DE , Daimler DAIGn.DE brand Mercedes, Geely-owned Volvo,
Suzuki 6785.T , Nissan 7201.T , Renault RENA.PA and Jaguar
Land Rover TAMO.NS .
"Today's decision underlines that we do not accept cartels
that affect the European market, wherever and however they may
be organised, "European Competition Commissioner Margrethe
Vestager said.
The markets for other vehicle components still on the
Commission's radar include car seats, steering systems,
electrolytic capacitors and exhaust pipes.
($1 = 0.9472 euros)
(Additional reporting by Robert-Jan Bartunek and Philip
Blenkinsop; Editing by Greg Mahlich)
((foo.yunchee@thomsonreuters.com; +32 2 287 6844; Reuters
Messaging: foo.yunchee.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
Keywords: EU ANTITRUST/AUTOS