Brussels (dpa) – The European Commission said on Saturday it was assessing information alleging that all major German carmakers may have formed a cartel since the 1990s.
German magazine Der Spiegel reported on Friday that German carmakers VW, BMW, Audi, Porsche and Daimler met in secret working groups to discuss vehicle technology, costs, suppliers and emission control of diesel cars.
“The European Commission and the Bundeskartellamt [Germany’s Federal Cartel Office] have received information on this matter, which is currently being assessed by the Commission,” a spokeswoman for the EU’s antitrust regulator told dpa in a statement.
“It is premature at this stage to speculate further. The Commission and national competition authorities cooperate closely with each other on such issues in the context of the European Competition Network.”
According to Der Spiegel more than 200 employees met in more than 60 working groups, and may have colluded to fix the prices of diesel emissions treatment systems.
