Antitrust: Commission fines car parts producers € 137 789 000 in cartel settlement

EU News 29/2016

Brussels, 27 January 2016

The European Commission has imposed fines of € 137 789 000 on Melco (Mitsubishi Electric) and Hitachi for participating in a cartel for alternators and starters with another firm, Denso, in breach of EU antitrust rules.

Denso was not fined as it revealed the existence of the cartel to the Commission. All companies acknowledged their involvement and agreed to settle the case.

For more than five years, the three Japanese car parts manufacturers coordinated prices and allocated customers or projects with regards to alternators and starters, two important components of car engines. Although contacts associated with forming and running the cartel took place outside the European Economic Area (EEA), the cartel affected European customers as alternators and starters were also sold directly to car manufacturers in the EEA.

Source and additional information:
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-16-173_en.htm?locale=en

File Photo: Margrethe Vestager, Member of the EC in charge of Competition, Date: 24/06/2015 Reference: P-028659/00-02 Location: Brussels - EC/Berlaymont (C)EU, 2015 URL

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