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The European Commission fined German carmakers €875 million for colluding to limit the development and use of clean emissions technology in their diesel cars, the bloc’s antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager said Thursday, the first time the bloc has levelled antitrust powers for just restricting technological development. Key Facts
The makers of Daimler, BMW, Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche “possessed the technology to reduce harmful emissions beyond what was legally required” in the EU, but collectively decided not to compete and improve it, Vestager said. Over the course of five years—between June 2009 and October 2014—the companies shared technical information on the technology used to reduce harmful nitrogen oxide emissions from diesel cars, the EU said, denying customers the opportunity to buy cleaner cars had they competed.
The Volkswagen Group—which makes Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche—will pay the majority of the fine, €502 million, while BMW will pay the remaining €373 million. Daimler, which would have been in line to pay around €727 million, received full immunity for revealing the cartel to the Commission., BMW highlighted the EU dropping most antitrust charges against it—especially allegations of illegal defeat devices that manipulate emissions readings—and said discussions had “no influence whatsoever on the company’s product decisions” and were aimed at improving customer experience.