Global carmakers raided by EU and UK antitrust regulators – Reuters.com
EU flags flutter in front of the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium October 2, 2019. REUTERS/Yves Herman
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BRUSSELS, March 15 (Reuters) – EU antitrust regulators on Tuesday raided several automotive companies and associations in several countries on suspicion of breaching the bloc’s cartel rules.
The European Commission also sent companies requests for information, it said without disclosing company names.
“The inspections and requests for information concern possible collusion in relation to the collection, treatment and recovery of end-of-life cars and vans which are considered waste,” the EU competition enforcer said in a statement.
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German carmaker BMW said it has received a request for information and would respond.
Mercedes Benz (MBGn.DE) said it does not expect to be fined because it is a leniency applicant and is cooperating extensively with the Commission and the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
Ford (F.N) said in a statement that it had been served with a notice by CMA “relating to the recycling of old or written-off vehicles, specifically cars and vans, also known as end-of-life vehicles”.
“Given the situation is ongoing it would be inappropriate for us to say more at this stage except to state that we will fully cooperate …….