OFT closes price fixing investigation

Commercial Motor
December 22, 2011

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has closed the criminal case against UK commercial vehicle manufacturers over alleged price fixing but the civil case around competition issues continues, CM understands.

In September 2010, the OFT launched a criminal cartel investigation under the Enterprise Act 2002 into suspected cartel activity involving truck manufacturers.

“Following a thorough investigation it has been determined that there is insufficient evidence for any individual to be charged with the cartel offence. Accordingly, that case has been closed,” says the OFT in a statement released on its website.

The personal criminal action against Ian Jones, MD of Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicles, has accordingly been closed by the OFT.

A statement from Mercedes-Benz says: “Ian Jones remains on personal leave. Sam Whittaker remains overseeing the Commercial Vehicles business in addition to his current responsibilities until Ian returns to work.

“The OFT's Competition Act investigation into Commercial Vehicle manufacturers continues.  Mercedes-Benz is fully cooperating with the investigation,” adds the statement.

Des Evans, chief executive of MAN, tells CM: “We’re pleased that the OFT has now dropped the criminal case. We’ve always been of the opinion that there was never a case to answer in the first place.

“If we can be accused of anything it’s fixing the price for customers to give them the lowest possible operating costs, “ adds Evans.

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