The European Commission has fined three automotive starter battery manufacturers and a trade association a combined €72 million ($84.54 million) for participating in a cartel that breached EU competition rules, the regulator said on Monday.
The Commission said battery makers Exide, FET and Rombat, together with industry association EUROBAT, engaged in anticompetitive agreements and coordinated practices related to the sale of automotive starter batteries across the European Economic Area (EEA) for more than 12 years.
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“This cartel restricted competition and may have led to higher prices for the manufacturing of cars and trucks in Europe,” the Commission said in a statement.
Another major battery maker, Clarios, was not fined after it disclosed the existence of the cartel to the Commission under the EU’s leniency programme, which allows companies to receive immunity or reduced penalties in exchange for cooperation.
The largest individual fine, €30 million, was imposed on Exide, the Commission said. Details of the fines imposed on the other companies were not immediately disclosed.
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Automotive starter batteries are mainly used in vehicles powered by internal combustion engines, including passenger cars and trucks, and play a key role in vehicle starting and electrical systems.
The ruling underscores the Commission’s continued focus on enforcing antitrust rules in industrial supply chains, particularly where coordinated behaviour could affect downstream sectors such as vehicle manufacturing.