EC launches tyre industry antitrust investigation in “several member states”

The European Commission is carrying out unannounced inspections at the premises of companies active in the tyre industry “in several “member states”. The reason? “The commission has concerns that the inspected companies may have violated EU antitrust rules that prohibit cartels and restrictive business practices”, according to an official statement.

So far, Nokian Tyres, Continental, Goodyear, Pirelli, and Bridgestone have confirmed they have received an unannounced inspection.

The products at the centre of anti-cartel case are “new replacement tyres for passenger cars, vans, trucks and busses sold in the European Economic Area”. The EC reports that it is “concerned that price coordination took place amongst the inspected companies, including via public communications.”

The EC reports that officials were accompanied by their counterparts from the relevant national competition authorities of the member states where the inspections were carried out, adding:

“Unannounced inspections are a preliminary investigatory step into suspected anticompetitive practices. The fact that the commission carries out such inspections does not mean that the companies are guilty of anti-competitive behaviour, nor does it prejudge the outcome of the investigation itself.”

There is no legal deadline to complete inquiries into anticompetitive conduct. Their duration depends on a number of factors, including: “the complexity of each case, the extent to which the undertakings concerned co-operate with the commission and the exercise of the rights of defence.”

Companies that have been involved in a secret cartel may be granted immunity from fines or significant reductions in fines in return for reporting the conduct and cooperating with the commission throughout its investigation, under EC leniency rules.