Branchevereniging Transport en Logistiek Nederland (TLN) has engaged an international law firm to prepare a claim against truck manufacturers who formed a cartel for years.
Due to the cartel of DAF, Volvo/Renault, MAN, Daimler and Iveco, which lasted between 1997 and 2004, Dutch truck entrepreneurs alone paid 1.2 billion euros too much for the 240 thousand trucks they bought during that time. The companies allegedly made price agreements, and also agreed with each other when they introduced new, cleaner truck engines. They also agreed on how to pass on the cost of this new emission technology to customers. It was only in 2011 that the cartelisation came to light.
The manufacturers already received a fine of over 2.9 billion euros. The high figure of 2.93 was meant to send a signal that cartelisation is unacceptable in Europe. "There are an estimated 30 million trucks circulating in Europe. Of every 10 medium and heavy trucks on European roads, nine come from the factories of these manufacturers. Instead of competing with each other, they colluded," European competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager explained the level of the fine.
The claims will further increase costs for the manufacturers. TLN is calling on companies to join the claim, which is being prepared by law firm Hausfeld & Co. You can sign up via the trade association's site.
Editorial LogistiekProfs
