The aim was to prevent the development of new technologies that would reduce hazardous … – Aftonbladet

Truck Companies in Europe – including the Swedish Scania and Volvo – ran the cartel for 14 years.

The purpose was to prevent the development of new technologies that would reduce environmental emissions.

The information contained in leaked documents from the European Commission.

In November, the EU Commission investigation of the suspected cartel. Collaboration between truck companies should have lasted between January 1997 and January 2011. In addition, Volvo and Scania also included, among other things, Daimler, Iveco, Volvo-owned Renault Trucks.

Even MAN truck giant based in Germany, were included. There were also those who revealed the cartel, according to the Financial Times referring to leaked and secret documents from the European Commission.

The documents are invändingen MAN. Such companies can, themselves included in any prohibited cooperation between competitors, align to the EU Commission in order to avoid the fines.

The purpose: Braking new environmental technologies

The forbidden cooperation between Truck companies prevented new technologies that can reduce environmental emissions would start to be used. According to the Financial Times came truck companies “agreed times and higher price levels for the introduction of new emissions technology.” This is the background of the EU rules on emissions of nitrogen oxide in 2000.

Truck companies should have set aside money for any fines. The sum can be up to 10 percent of annual sales. For Volvo, it means they can be fined 3.7 billion, money they already should have set aside.

Scania: We do not comment on the details

According to Staffan Ekengren on Scania’s information department, Scania was told that the EU Commission launched an investigation in November.

– they have looked at the question we have known in the past. We were informed in late November that an investigation is pending, he said.

Companies that are the subject of an investigation into the forbidden competition cooperation can get reduced fines if they cooperate with the European Commission.

– We are asked to provide information and it is clear that we cooperate in this regard. Since it is an ongoing investigation we comment on how we relate to the data, says Staffan Ekengren.

Footnote: Aftonbladet has sought Volvo Trucks for comment.