EU Automotive Bearings Cartel

Automotive bearings are specialized components bought on long-term contracts by carmakers and tier-one suppliers. Oligopoly structure invites collusion if enforcement slackens.

The Commission found SKF, Schaeffler, JTEKT, NTN-SNR, and others exchanged pricing information and coordinated responses to steel cost increases—effectively fixing surcharges passed to manufacturers.

Emails and meeting records showed competitors knew each other's bids before submitting their own—a classic car-parts cartel pattern alongside wire harnesses and exhaust systems cases.

SKF earned leniency for cooperation, paying a reduced fine; others faced penalties reflecting their role and duration.

Carmakers initially might not see identical quotes, but alleged coordination reduced bargaining leverage on a component used in every vehicle.

Follow-on damages suits by manufacturers and consumers' indirect effects rippled for years.

The bearings cartel exemplifies EU focus on automotive supply-chain collusion after the trucks scandal.

Hidden component cartels raise car prices industry-wide.

Steel surcharge coordination is still price fixing.

OEMs depend on whistleblowers and dawn raids to detect collusion.

Coordinated bearing prices and surcharges to carmakers.

Information exchanges on live negotiations.

Multi-year conspiracy across Europe.

Companies settled aspects via leniency; appealed fine math.

Damages defendants dispute causal overcharge amounts.

Vehicle prices reflect countless supplier inputs—cartels inflate them.

Suppliers must refuse competitor bid coordination.