EU antitrust body fines car part firms a cool €155m in cartel case

The European Commission has fined six suppliers of air conditioning and engine cooling units for cars in an antitrust case focused on their involvement in supply cartels.

German firm Behr, France's Valeo and Japanese quartet Calsonic, Denso, Panasonic and Sanden are the latest companies to feel the wrath of Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, who ruled that they had coordinated prices and exchanged sensitive information.

The Commission said that the suppliers had all recognised and admitted to their involvement in the cartels.

There were four separate cartels which were supplying components to automakers for the air conditioning and cooling units, the EC said.

"Even though air conditioning and cooling components are not something you see as products, they are very much something you feel," Vestager said.

"In this case you might also have felt it in your wallet even though temperatures would still be regulated in your car. Today's decision underlines that we do not accept cartels that affect the European market, wherever and however they may be organised."

The statement from the Commission also noted that the investigation into the companies was part of a wider look at the auto industry and cartels associated with it.

"Today's decision concerning air conditioning and engine cooling components (thermal systems) is part of a series of major investigations into cartels in the automotive parts sector," the statement read.