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Commission fines automotive starter battery manufacturers and association €72 million for participating in a cartel

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The European Commission has fined three automotive starter battery manufacturers, Exide, FET (including its predecessor Elettra) and Rombat, as well as the trade association EUROBAT, a total of around €72 million for participating in a long-running cartel concerning automotive starter batteries, together with Clarios (formerly JC Autobatterie), in breach of EU antitrust rules. This cartel restricted competition and may have led to higher prices for the manufacturing of cars and trucks in Europe.

Clarios was not fined, as it revealed the cartel to the Commission under the leniency programme. In parallel, the Commission has closed proceedings against automotive starter battery manufacturer Banner and the service provider Kellen.

Today's decision concludes that the conduct of the four automotive starter battery manufacturers and EUROBAT constitutes a single and continuous infringement, amounting to an infringement by object under Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (‘TFEU') and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement, which prohibit agreements and other restrictive business practices that may affect trade and prevent or restrict competition within the Single Market.

Executive Vice President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, Teresa Ribera (pictured) said: “Today we have fined three automotive starter battery manufacturers and their trade association for agreeing to introduce a surcharge for the sale of their batteries, in breach of EU competition rules. In other words, they fixed the price. We have zero tolerance for price fixing or any type of cartel. It is our duty to ensure that our citizens and businesses, including European auto manufacturers can depend on suppliers that play fair and respect competition rules. With this decision, we also remind trade associations that they should not use their position as representatives of the industry to facilitate collusion among their members.”

A press release is available online.

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