UK: Regulator fines 10 carmakers & 2 trade bodies over decision not to compete through green ad collusion
Summary
Date Reported: 1 Apr 2025
Location: United Kingdom
Companies
Mercedes-Benz Group - Other Value Chain Entity , BMW - Other Value Chain Entity , Ford - Other Value Chain Entity , Jaguar Land Rover - Other Value Chain Entity , Mitsubishi Motors (part of Mitsubishi Group) - Other Value Chain Entity , Nissan - Other Value Chain Entity , Renault - Other Value Chain Entity , Toyota - Other Value Chain Entity , Vauxhall (part of Opel) - Other Value Chain Entity , Volkswagen - Other Value Chain Entity , Stellantis - Parent CompanyAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Consumer: ( Number unknown - Location unknown - Sector unknown , Gender not reported )Issues
Access to InformationResponse
Response sought: Yes, by Journalist
External link to response: (Find out more)
Action taken: A tipoff from Mercedes-Benz allowed it to avoid financial penalties despite also being involved in the cartel. The 10 manufacturers subject to the UK fines were contacted for comment by the Guardian. A spokesperson for Renault said: “The infringing practices date back to 2002 and ended up in 2018, at a time when the structuring of the ELV (end of life vehicle) recycling sector was still nascent, as was environmental communication. The practices do not financially harm consumers.”
Source type: News outlet
“UK regulator fines 10 carmakers and two trade bodies over green ad collusion”
Ten leading car manufacturers – plus two automotive trade bodies – have been fined more than £77m by a UK regulator after admitting breaking competition law in relation to advertising their green credentials.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched an investigation after a tipoff from Mercedes-Benz, which allowed the German marque to avoid financial penalties despite also being involved in the cartel.
Its rivals – BMW, Ford, Jaguar Land Rover, Peugeot Citroën, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Renault, Toyota, Vauxhall and Volkswagen – “illegally agreed” not to compete when advertising what percentage of their cars can be recycled at the end of the car’s life…
The regulator added that the carmakers, with the exception of Renault, also agreed not to share information with their customers about the percentage of recycled material used in their vehicles…
Failing to compete in this way is against competition rules and meant customers buying a car from these manufacturers were unable to fully compare the green credentials of vehicles when buying…
After launching its investigation, the CMA was approached by the SMMT, Stellantis – the owner of Opel, Peugeot Citroën and Vauxhall – and Mitsubishi requesting leniency, which resulted in their fines being reduced…
The 10 manufacturers subject to the UK fines were contacted for comment by the Guardian…