ACEA, which lobbies for the European auto industry and publishes regular media reports on the benefits it brings, helped 15 automakers to form a cartel to control vehicle recycling, according to the European Commission. They raided the companies three years ago and found evidence of collusion from 2002 through 2017. The ACEA organized meetings among the companies.
The EU’s antitrust chief, Teresa Ribera, said they would not tolerate cartels of any kind, even those that are environmentally positive.
Volkswagen had the biggest fine, as Europe’s largest automaker by a huge margin (through the eponymous brand and through sub-brands such as Audi, Skoda, and SEAT), totaling 128 million euros. Stellantis, as the #2 automaker, had a 100 million euro fine; Renault-Nissan are to pay 81 million, and Ford will pay 41 million. Toyota, Mitsubishi, Hyundai, Honda, Tata, Mazda, GM, Suzuki, and Volvo were all involved and fined. The ACEA itself, which organized the scheme but does not have the resources of automakers, paid 500,000 euros. All automakers pled guilty for a fine reduction.
Mercedes was involved but avoided fines by informing on the others.
The European Union can fine companies directly, while the United States regulators have to go to court for trials that can drag out for many years, costing the country millions of dollars per trial and allowing the market to settle into distorted shapes. The Stellantis fine was already included in 2024 financial results and will not affect the company moving forward.
Cars have been recycled since the dawn of the automotive era, with usable parts sold at retail or wholesale, and other parts sold to recyclers or disposed of. Gary Platz even wrote a book of junkyard memories, based on fixing Chrysler vehicles with wrecker’s yard parts in the United States.
Story via MSN, provided by Mopar Don.
David Zatz started what was to become the world’s biggest, most comprehensive Mopar site in 1994 as he pursued a career in organizational research and change. After a chemo-induced break, during which he wrote car books covering Vipers, minivans, and Jeeps, he returned with Patrick Rall to create StellPower.com for daily news, and to set up MoTales for mo’ tales.
David Zatz has around 30 years of experience in covering Chrysler/Mopar news and history, and most recently wrote Century of Chrysler, a 100-year retrospective on the Chrysler marque.
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