Summary Of Significant Cartel And Horizontal Agreements Developments In November 2017

European Commission imposes fines on car safety equipment suppliers in cartel settlement case

On 22 November 2017, the European Commission announced that it had imposed fines totalling € 34 million on five car safety equipment suppliers for taking part in one or more of four separate cartels for the supply of car safety equipment to some Japanese car manufacturers in the EEA. The Commission concluded the case under its cartel settlement procedure.

The Commission's investigation revealed the existence of four separate infringements of varying scope and duration. The Commission stated that the companies involved – Tokai Rika, Takata, Autoliv, Toyoda Gosei and Marutaka – acknowledged that, for several years, they had coordinated prices or markets and exchanged sensitive information for the supply in the EEA of seatbelts, airbags and steering wheels to Japanese car manufacturers Toyota, Suzuki and Honda respectively. The Commission also reported that the coordination