On Friday 5 April, the European Commission sent a statement of objections to BMW, Daimler and the Volkswagen group (Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche), in which the institution criticises the manufacturers, after a preliminary investigation, for having restricted competition in the development of technologies to reduce emissions from passenger cars with petrol and diesel engines.
These objections follow inspections carried out by the institution in October 2017 (see EUROPE 11889/26), which led to the opening of an in-depth investigation against car manufacturers last September (see EUROPE 12098/21).
The Commission now considers that the three groups have participated in a collusive scheme to limit the development and deployment of emission reduction technologies for passenger cars sold in the European Economic Area (EEA). This practice took the form of technical meetings between the various companies.
The institution's concerns relate to selective catalytic reduction (‘SCR’) systems, which reduce harmful emissions of nitrogen oxides, and "Otto" particulate filters, which reduce harmful particulate emissions from exhaust gases. On the first point, the Commission, again on a preliminary basis, considers that BMW, Daimler and Volkswagen coordinated their strategies from 2006 to 2014. While coordination for 'Otto' particulate filters would have taken place from 2009 to 2014.
For the institution, these behaviours were intended to restrict competition in the field of innovation concerning these two emission reduction systems and therefore prevented consumers from buying less polluting cars.
If the actions of the manufacturers were proven, they would constitute an infringement of European Union competition law. The transmission of the Statement of Objections will now allow the three groups to submit their observations to the Commission. (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)