Trucks cartel

Trucks cartel

On July 19, 2016, the European Commission imposed a record fine of €2.93 billion on five European truck manufacturers as part of a settlement procedure. The investigation was initiated by a leniency application from MAN. The Commission found that from January 1997 to January 18, 2011, the cartel participants coordinated gross list prices, agreed on the timetable for introducing emission reduction technologies, and determined how to pass on the costs for these technologies across the entire European Economic Area. The agreements involved medium trucks weighing between 6 and 16 tons and heavy trucks over 16 tons, including both rigid trucks and tractor units.

On September 27, 2017, the Commission fined Scania €880 million after the company opposed the settlement agreement. This decision has been final since February 2024, as the legal proceedings before the European Court of Justice have concluded (Case C-251/22 P).

Currently, hundreds of damage claims are pending across Europe, with plaintiffs estimating potential claims at 10-20% of the net acquisition price. Consequently, the total losses across Europe could reach several billion euros.

Cartel subject: Medium trucks weighing between 6 and 16 tons, and heavy trucks weighing over 16 tons, including both rigid trucks and tractor units

Cartel agreements: Exchange of information on gross prices and coordination on the timing for introducing emission reduction technologies, as well as the passing on of costs for these technologies.

Cartel members: MAN (applicant under the leniency notice), Daimler, Iveco, Volvo/Renault and DAF. Scania: Legal proceedings against fine notice not yet concluded.

Cartel period: 01.1997 – 18.01.2011

Cartel region: European Economic Area (EEA)

Level of fines: About 3.81 billion euros

Affected parties: All purchasers, including those involved in buying, hire-purchasing, and leasing, of trucks and semitrailer tractors