MAN 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.
Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said: “We have today put down a marker by imposing record fines for a serious infringement. In all, there are over 30 million trucks on European roads, which account for around three quarters of inland transport of goods in Europe and play a vital role for the European economy. It is not acceptable that MAN, Volvo/Renault, Daimler, Iveco and DAF, which together account for around 9 out of every 10 medium and heavy trucks produced in Europe, were part of a cartel instead of competing with each other. For 14 years they colluded on the pricing and on passing on the costs for meeting environmental standards to customers. This is also a clear message to companies that cartels are not accepted."
Road haulage is an essential part of the European transport sector and its competitiveness is contingent on the prices of the vehicles used by transporters. Today's decision relates specifically to the market for the manufacturing of medium (weighing between six to 16 tons) and heavy trucks (weighing over 16 tons). The Commission's investigation revealed that MAN, Volvo/Renault, Daimler, Iveco and DAF had engaged in a cartel relating to:
- Co-ordinating prices at "gross list" level for medium and heavy trucks in the European Economic Area (EEA). The "gross list" price level relates to the factory price of trucks, as set by each manufacturer. Generally, these gross list prices are the basis for pricing in the trucks industry. The final price paid by buyers is then based on further adjustments, done at national and local level, to these gross list prices.
- The timing for the introduction of emission technologies for medium and heavy trucks to comply with the increasingly strict European emissions standards (from Euro III through to the currently applicable Euro VI).
- The passing on to customers of the costs for the emissions technologies required to comply with the increasingly strict European emissions standards (from Euro III through to the currently applicable Euro VI).
The infringement covered the entire EEA and lasted 14 years, from 1997 until 2011, when the Commission carried out unannounced inspections of the firms. Between 1997 and 2004, meetings were held at senior manager level, sometimes at the margins of trade fairs or other events. This was complemented by phone conversations. From 2004 onwards, the cartel was organised via the truck producers' German subsidiaries, with participants generally exchanging information electronically.
Over the 14 years the discussions between the companies covered the same topics, namely the respective "gross list" price increases, timing for the introduction of new emissions technologies and the passing on to customers of the costs for the emissions technologies.
Today's (19 July) decision follows the sending of a Statement of Objections to the trucks producers in November 2014. In the context of this investigation, proceedings were also opened with regard to Scania. Scania is not covered by this settlement decision and therefore the investigation will continue under the standard (non-settlement) cartel procedure for this company.
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Emissions standards compliance
The collusion identified by the Commission concerned the new emission technologies required by the Euro III to Euro VI environmental standards, specifically coordination on timing and coordination on passing on of costs of emission technologies for trucks compliant with newly introduced emissions standards. The collusion was not aimed at avoiding or manipulating compliance with the new emission standards.
The Commission’s investigation did not reveal any links between this cartel and allegations or practices on circumventing the anti-pollution system of certain vehicles (commonly referred to as "defeat devices").
Today's decision underlines the importance of a functioning competitive market to foster the development and dissemination of cost-efficient low-emission technologies, which is one of the elements of the upcoming European Strategy for low-emission mobility.
Fines
The fines were set on the basis of the Commission's 2006 Guidelines on fines (see press release and MEMO).
In setting the level of fines, the Commission took into account the respective companies' sales of medium trucks and heavy trucks in the EEA, as well as the serious nature of the infringement, the high combined market share of the companies, the geographic scope and the duration of the cartel.
Under the Commission's 2006 Leniency Notice, MAN received full immunity for revealing the existence of the cartel, thereby avoiding a fine of around €1.2bn. For their cooperation with the investigation, Volvo/Renault, Daimler and Iveco benefited from reductions of their fines under the 2006 Leniency Notice. The reductions reflect the timing of their co-operation and the extent to which the evidence they provided helped the Commission to prove the existence of the cartel.
Under the Commission's 2008 Settlement Notice, the Commission applied a reduction of 10% to the fines imposed in view of the parties' acknowledgment of their participation in the cartel and of their liability in this respect.
The total fines imposed are as follows:
|
Reduction under the Leniency Notice |
Reduction under the Settlement Notice |
Fine (€) |
| MAN |
100% |
10% |
0 |
| Volvo/Renault |
40% |
10% |
670 448 000 |
| Daimler |
30% |
10% |
1 008 766 000 |
| Iveco |
10% |
10% |
494 606 000 |
| DAF |
|
10% |
752 679 000 |
| Total |
|
|
2 926 499 000 |
Background
Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement prohibit cartels and other restrictive business practices.
The Commission's investigation started with an immunity application submitted by MAN. In January 2011 the Commission carried out unannounced inspections (see MEMO/11/29).
More information will be available on the Commission's competition website, in the public case register under case number 39824, once confidentiality issues have been resolved.
More information on the Commission’s action against cartels is available on its cartels website, including a list of the ten highest cartel fines per case. New decisions on competition policy are listed in the electronic newsletter Competition weekly e-News.
The settlement procedure
Today's decision is the 21st settlement since the introduction of this procedure for cartels in June 2008 (see press release and MEMO). In a settlement, companies acknowledge their participation in a cartel and their liability for it. Settlements are based on the Antitrust Regulation 1/2003 and allow the Commission to apply a simplified and shortened procedure. This allows the Commission to take decisions quickly and frees up resources to tackle other suspected cartels. It also benefits the parties themselves in terms of faster decisions and a 10% reduction in fines.
Action for damages
Any person or firm affected by anti-competitive behaviour as described in this case may bring the matter before the courts of the Member States and seek damages. The case law of the Court and Council Regulation 1/2003 both confirm that in cases before national courts, a Commission decision constitutes binding proof that the behaviour took place and was illegal. Even though the Commission has fined the companies concerned, damages may be awarded without being reduced on account of the Commission fine.
The Antitrust Damages Directive, which member states have to implement in their legal systems by 27 December 2016, makes it easier for victims of anti-competitive practices to obtain damages. More information on antitrust damages actions, including a practical guide on how to quantify antitrust harm, is available here.
Volvo reaches settlement with European Commission
The Volvo Group has reached a settlement with the European Commission. As part of the settlement Volvo will pay a fine of €670m corresponding to SEK 6.3bn. The amount is mainly covered by provisions made in 2014 and 2016, in total €650 million (SEK 6.1bn). An additional provision will have a negative impact of EUR 20 M (SEK 0.2bn) on the operating income in the third quarter of 2016.
“The Commission case was already more than five years under way. Without the settlement we would have been facing many more years of proceedings, with an uncertain outcome. We are now able to look forward and focus on our business,” said Volvo President and CEO Martin Lundstedt. “We strive to be a world leading business because we compete with the best products and services and the best employees.”
The anti-trust investigation concerns the time between 1997 and January 2011 and involves the Volvo Group as one of 6 manufacturers. The focal point of the case is the co-ordination on gross list prices but also the introduction of new emission related technologies.
“While we regret what has happened, we are convinced that these events have not impacted our customers. The Volvo Group has always competed for every single transaction,” added Lundstedt.
“We have taken these events very seriously from the outset and our full co-operation with the Commission resulted in a very substantial reduction in the fine.”
