The EC fine with 34 million euros to cartel of Japanese car safety parts

The European Commission (EC) today imposed a fine of 34 million euros on five companies that supply safety components for Japanese car brands, considering that they have participated in at least one of four detected cartels, which violates the antitrust community rules.

Brussels, Nov 22 (EFE) .- The European Commission (EC) today imposed a fine of 34 million euros on five companies that supply safety components for Japanese car brands. consider that they have participated in at least one of four detected cartels, which violates the antitrust community rules.

The sanctioned companies are Tokai Rika, Takata, Autoliv, Toyoda Gosei and Marutaka, who supplied safety belts, airbags or steering wheels in the European economic area to the Japanese manufacturers Toyota, Suzuki and Honda.

The EC reported in a statement that the five companies in question acknowledged having participated in the cartels and agreed to reach an agreement on the case.

Takata was not fined by three of the cartels because it revealed to Brussels its existence, while Tokai Rika avoided the sanction by one of them, having also revealed it to the Commission.

"The five suppliers fined today Allied to maximize their profits from the sale of these components, "said European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, adding that these practices" may have raised the cost of these components for several of these manufacturers, who sell their vehicles in Europe, potentially affecting consumers. "

He also stressed that" we will not accept cartels that affect European consumers, even if the cartel is organized outside Europe. "

According to the EC, these irregular partnerships between suppliers may have had an" effect Significant "in consumers in the European Union, since about one in every eleven cars sold in the EU is produced by a Japanese company.

In addition, he stressed that all these Japanese car producers have manufacturing plants in the European economic space.

The investigation carried out by the Commission on the matter revealed the existence of four separate infractions.