Fugitive for nearly five years, leads guilty to antitrust conspiracy to raise prices of instrument clusters. Eun Soo Kim, a former key accounts manager for Continental Automotive Korea Ltd. and a Korean national, was extradited from Germany and pleaded guilty for his role in an international market allocation and bid-rigging conspiracy involving the sale of […]
Justice Department Extends Public Comment Period on 1963 Consent Decree Until October 2
Members of the collision repair industry that want to see the 1963 insurance antitrust consent decree applied to the insurance industry in the 21st century have a few more weeks to make their case to enforce the decree. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division posted on its website detailing the listing of consent […]
U.S. Senator Blumenthal Joins Collision Repair Association in Call to Preserve 1963 Consent Decree
Senator Blumenthal has repeatedly called on the U.S. DOJ to enforce the 1963 insurance industry antitrust consent decree to protect consumers and competition. U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal from Connecticut joined members of the Auto Body Association of Connecticut yesterday to warn the public of the potential consequences of the proposed termination of a 1963 consent […]
AASP/NJ Urges Collision Repair Industry to Defend 1963 Consent Decree
The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey (AASP/NJ) is taking action in defense of the 1963 insurance industry antitrust consent decree that has been proposed for termination by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). AASP/NJ has created an online petition to assist members in quickly submitting their comments and telling the DOJ just […]
1963 Insurance Anti-Trust Consent Decree Nominated for Termination
For decades collision repair facility operators who oppose insurance company direct repair programs and labor rate setting have sought to have an over 55 year old consent decree applied to today’s industry. The 1963 consent decree reached between the U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) and three insurance industry trade associations has been nominated to be officially […]
European Commission Fines Car Safety Equipment Suppliers $413 Million in Antitrust Settlement
Three suppliers conspired to raise prices on seatbelts, airbags and steering wheels to Volkswagen and BMW. The European Commission announced March 5 that it has fined Autoliv and TRW a total of €368,277,000 ($413.5 million) for breaching EU antitrust rules by participating in a cartel to raise the prices of automotive safety parts. Takata, the […]
Auto Parts Manufacturer Pleads Guilty to Antitrust Conspiracy Involving Steel Tubes
Company agrees to pay $12 million criminal fine. Maruyasu Industries Co. Ltd., an automotive parts manufacturer headquartered in the Aichi Prefecture in Japan, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to pay a $12 million criminal fine for its role in a criminal conspiracy to fix prices, rig bids, and allocate customers for automotive steel tubes incorporated […]
Oregon Collision Repair Shop Sues GEICO Alleging Antitrust
Lawsuit by Leif’s Auto Collision alleges GEICO and ARX shops engaged in conspiracy to suppress repair costs, refuse to reimburse for diagnostic scans. GEICO had sued collision repair facility in January alleging abusive and intimidating conduct against its adjusters. Portland, Oregon-based Leif’s Auto Collision, filed a lawsuit Tuesday in the U.S. District Court in Oregon […]
European Commission Fines Three Vehicle Lighting System Producers €27 million in Antitrust Settlement on Parts Sales to Aftermarket
The European Commission has fined Automotive Lighting and Hella a total of €26,744,000 ($29.78 million) for participating in an automotive lighting cartel, in breach of EU antitrust rules. Valeo was not fined as it revealed the cartel to the Commission. All companies admitted their involvement and agreed to settle. The investigation concerned the aftermarket segment […]
Mitsubishi Electric to Pay CA$13.4 million for Car Part Bid Rigging in Canada
Car parts manufacturer Mitsubishi Electric Corporation pleaded guilty to three counts of bid-rigging for participating in an international conspiracy and was fined CA$13.4 million ($9.8 million) by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Canada. A Competition Bureau investigation determined that Mitsubishi Electric entered into illegal agreements with a competing Japanese car parts manufacturer. The […]