OFT fines Mercedes-Benz

Following an investigation by the Office of Fair Trading, Mercedes-Benz UK and three of its commercial vehicle dealers have been fined a total of £2.6 million.

The penalties relate to three separate infringements of competition law, all perpetrated during the supply of vans and trucks in northern England and parts of Scotland and Wales.

Each occurrence entailed elements of price coordination, market sharing or the exchange of commercially sensitive information:

• Case one concerned the distribution of vans between 15 January 2008 and 26 January 2010; involved were dealers Ciceley and Northside.
• Case two concerned the distribution of vans between 1 February 2008 and 26 January 2010; involved were dealers Ciceley and Road Range.
• Case three concerned the distribution of trucks between 8 December 2009 and 26 January 2010; involved were Mercedes-Benz UK and dealers Ciceley, Enza and Road Range.

Because Northside was the first firm to provide evidence after the enquiry began, it received immunity from punishment under the OFT’s leniency policy.

The four remaining parties have had their fines reduced by 15 per cent in recognition of their subsequent admissions and agreement to a quicker administrative process.

Consequently the final dealer fines are £659,675 for Ciceley, £347,198 for Enza and £115,774 for Road Range. Mercedes-Benz UK meanwhile faces a penalty of £1,492,646. Those amounts reflect a number of factors, including company turnover and the seriousness of the infringements.

Related posts:
OFT investigates Mercedes
OFT probes price fixing