Trucks Cartel
Allegations:
Large European truck producers according to the findings of the EU Commission in its decision imposing fines of July 19, 2016 have cooperated as a cartel over a period of 14 years (from 1997 until 2011). The purpose of the cartel was to coordinate the gross list prices of medium-duty trucks (more than 6 t payload) and heavy-duty trucks (more than 16 t payload) as well as the introduction of emission reducing technology and the pass on of its costs.
Concerned companies:
DAF, Daimler, Iveco, Volvo, MAN and Scania. Said companies (with the exception of Scania) have concluded the EU Commission´s investigation by settlement. At this occasion record fines in the amount of € 2.9bn have been imposed. Only MAN as the whistleblower was granted immunity from a fine – otherwise a fine of € 1.2bn would have been imposed on MAN according to a statement of the EU Commission. Scania was fined with € 880 million by the EU Commission in its decision of September 27, 2017.
The truck producers had already previously made provisions for the expected fines and damages claims in the amount of € 2.6bn in total.
Potential victims:
Logistics companies, freight forwarders, leasing companies, truck fleet owners and users may claim damages.
It doesn’t help to have the law on your side. One must also reckon with the judiciary.
Dieter Hildebrand