Vauxhall Owner Sues Tyre Maker Continental and Car Parts Maker Bosch Over Cartel Claims
Stellantis, the owner of Vauxhall, is suing Continental, a tyre maker, and Bosch, a car parts maker, over allegations of historical price-fixing.
The lawsuit follows an EU ruling which found that Bosch, Continental and other firms had formed a cartel, suspected of colluding to fix prices for electronic brake and steering systems.
As part of the EU’s wide-ranging investigation into anti-competitive behaviour, Continental and Bosch were fined €76m in 2018, with a total of €546m in fines imposed on car parts makers and shipping companies.
Mercedes lodged a similar complaint against the companies in 2020. The size of the lawsuit from Stellantis and Continental is yet to be disclosed.
Bosch, in a statement, confirmed that it has been informed by a car manufacturer of its intention to file a complaint “at short notice to preserve potential claims” but has not yet received any official court documents.
Meanwhile, Mercedes has already launched legal action against the firms in question. Last year, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority opened an investigation into potential breaches of competition law with regards to the recycling of old vehicles.
The investigation remains ongoing and the CMA is working with the European Commission on the case.
