Media reports on industrial collusion between German carmakers

Publisher
Series Title
Series Details July 2017
Publication Date 21/07/2017
Content Type

Background and further information:

The existence of secret meetings between employees of different car firms was reportedly to the knowledge of the European Union since it investigated evidence in the context of the Dieselgate case. Media sources indicated that the European Commission had already started analysing further elements in this case of potential industrial collusion and called in the first witnesses.

Germany's government highlighted the need for further investigation, while the automobile industry dismissed the claims as speculation.

The report published by Der Spiegel points out that five German car firms started holding meetings in the 1990s to coordinate activities relating to their vehicle technology, costs, suppliers and strategy as well as emissions controls in diesel engines. The discussions allegedly involved more than 200 employees in 60 working groups. Talks may have also involved the size of tanks for AdBlue fluid for diesel autos which is at the heart of the emissions case.

Media sources reflected in July 2017 on allegations that five of Germany's car firms were engaged in a massive case of industrial collusion since the 1990s, by holding secret meetings where they agreed on technologies, costs, suppliers and even how to work on emissions from diesel engines.

Subsequently, politicians and representatives of the German automotive industry convened on the 2 August 2017 for a Diesel Summit on the future of diesel cars. German carmakers that manipulated the emissions data of their diesel cars agreed to update the software in five million vehicles. Consumer protection agencies in particular criticised the measure, saying it did not go far enough. Europe's press also concluded that the summit failed to produce a viable model for the car industry of the future.

Related Links
Deutsche Welle, 02.08.17: Dieselgate: the cozy ties between Germany's car industry and Berlin exposed http://p.dw.com/p/2hWwn
Politico, 04-07.08.17: Politicians, carmakers fail to put brakes on German diesel debate http://www.politico.eu/article/dieselgate-diesel-summit-germany-politicians-carmakers-fail-to-put-brakes-on-german-diesel-debate/
EurActiv, 08.08.17: German financial watchdog probing carmakers’ ‘cartel’ http://www.euractiv.com/section/transport/news/german-financial-watchdog-probing-carmakers-cartel/
Deutsche Welle, 09.08.17: Dieselgate forces German carmakers to rethink their future http://p.dw.com/p/2hv6x
Deutsche Welle, 21.07.17: Fresh reports of massive collusion amongst German automakers http://p.dw.com/p/2gy6z
Bloomberg, 22.07.17: EU, German Regulator Studying Reports of Automaker Collusion https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-07-22/eu-german-regulator-studying-reports-of-automaker-collusion
Politico, 22.07.17: EU probe into alleged German carmaker cartel http://www.politico.eu/article/eu-probe-into-alleged-german-carmaker-cartel/
The New York Times, 23.07.17: BMW Denies Colluding With Carmakers on Emissions Equipment https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/23/business/bmw-denies-colluding-with-carmakers-on-emissions-equipment.html
Bloomberg, 25.07.17: U.S. Is Said to Review Allegations German Carmakers Colluded https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-07-25/u-s-is-said-to-review-allegations-german-carmakers-colluded
Deutsche Welle, 24.07.17: Collusion cloud follows German carmakers http://p.dw.com/p/2h4ua
Politico, 24.07.17: 24.07.17: Brussels vows to untangle latest German car scandal http://www.politico.eu/article/germany-cars-cartel-dieselgate-brussels-vows-to-piece-together-automotive-emissions-puzzle/
Deutsche Welle, 24.07.17: [Opinion] Cartel of cheats http://p.dw.com/p/2h3FU
Reuters, 24.07.17: [Opinion] Carmakers need more collaboration, not less https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-eu-autos-breakingviews-idUSKBN1A91BZ
EurActiv, 24.07.17: Cartel probe looms over German car industry http://www.euractiv.com/section/transport/news/cartel-probe-looms-over-german-car-industry/
EUObserver, 24.07.17: German car cartel case may take long time to prove https://euobserver.com/economic/138592
EurActiv, 02.08.17: Germany’s car bosses bid to head off diesel ban with software patch http://www.euractiv.com/section/transport/news/germanys-car-bosses-bid-to-head-off-diesel-ban-with-software-patch/
Euro|Topics: Debates, July-August 2017: Which way to go on diesel? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/183539/which-way-to-go-on-diesel
Deutsche Welle, 01.08.17: A political tug-of-war over diesel http://p.dw.com/p/2hUYE
Euro|Topics: Debates, August 2017: No real change after the diesel summit? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/183703/no-real-change-after-the-diesel-summit
Deutsche Welle, 02.08.17: [Opinion]: Trust in diesel running on empty http://p.dw.com/p/2hb2m
Deutsche Welle, 02.08.17: Diesel summit deal limited to software upgrades http://p.dw.com/p/2hYrC
The Local.de, 03.08.17: German car bosses bid to head off diesel ban with software fix for 5 million cars https://www.thelocal.de/20170802/german-car-bosses-bid-to-head-off-diesel-ban-with-software-patch-of-5-million-cars
The Local.de, 02.08.17: What you should know about the 'dieselgate' scandal shaking up Germany's car industry https://www.thelocal.de/20170802/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-dieselgate-scandal-thats-shaking-up-the-german-car-industry

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