Truck Cartel: Your Claim for Damages
If you purchased trucks between 1998 and 2013, you are likely affected by the truck cartel. This means that you may be entitled to a potential compensation claim of 10-15% of the purchase price per truck.
Did you purchase a truck between 1998 and 2013?
The Facts about the Truck Cartel
From January 1997 to January 2011, illegal agreements took place among major European truck manufacturers such as MAN, Daimler, Iveco, Volvo/Renault, DAF, and Scania. These involved price-fixing, discount reductions, and manipulation of emission standards (Euro norms).
This cartel behavior was uncovered and legally pursued by the EU Commission, enabling customers of these manufacturers to now file for compensation damages.
The EU Commission urges affected companies that purchased fleets of trucks to pursue their right to compensation damages.
Manufacturers involved in the truck cartel:
- DAF
- Daimler (Mercedes)
- Iveco
- MAN
- Scania
- Volvo / Renault
TRUCK CARTEL | FACTS
+250.000
+€100 billion
€2.9 billion
Your Right to Compensation
According to several rulings by the Federal Court of Justice (BGH), affected companies can claim compensation of about 10-15% of the purchase price of the affected trucks. This represents a significant financial reimbursement to offset the overpayments caused by the cartel.
No Cost Risk for You
As our client, you incur no financial risk, because PROFIN covers the legal costs and bears the full risk for you. Additionally, you have the option to assign your claims directly, allowing you to receive your compensation faster and more easily.
The following criteria must be met
- New Vehicles: Purchased, Leased, Long-Term Rentals, Rent-to-Own
- Purchase Dates: 1998 – 2013
- Total Weight: ≥ 6 Tons
- Purchase Price: ≥ €30,000 net
- Location: Purchased in the EU or European Economic Area
- Status: Active, Inactive, Damaged, Sold and Returned Vehicles
- Manufacturer: DAF, Daimler (Mercedes), Iveco, MAN, Scania, Volvo / Renault
Do your trucks meet the criteria?
We will quickly and easily check your eligibility for compensation.
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Steps to claim compensation
Authorization and Documentation
Upon your submission of the required evidence and documents for your vehicles, our team will promptly start the process.
Immediate Legal Action
We handle the entire process for you, from reviewing your claims to enforcing your demands in court or out of court.
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Required Documents*
- Purchase/ Rental/ Leasing Agreement or Invoice
- Order Confirmation
- Vehicle Registration
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Two Paths to your Goal
The Lawsuit
The Settlement
Individual offer per truck and immediate payment after 4 weeks
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Frequently Asked Questions
Significance of EU Commission Decisions for Your Lawsuit
Thanks to the binding decisions of the EU Commission, it has been legally established that the involved truck manufacturers engaged in cartel agreements to the detriment of their customers. This significantly simplifies the process, as the existence of the cartel and the illegality of the agreements made can no longer be disputed.
Cartel Impact
The challenge lies in proving that you were individually affected by the cartel and determining the extent of the damage incurred. Our experienced legal team knows how to handle this.
Conclusion and Outlook
According to legal experts, the prospects for compensation claims are generally very positive. The legal framework, the precedent-setting decisions of the EU Commission, and forthcoming legislative changes provide a solid foundation for enforcing your claims. If you are affected by the cartel agreements, it is advisable to carefully examine your options and, if necessary, take legal action to obtain the compensation you are entitled to.
The truck cartel was an extensive and long-standing agreement among leading truck manufacturers that affected the entire European Economic Area (EEA). These illegal agreements began in January 1997 and continued until January 2011. During this period, all involved truck manufacturers were continuously engaged in cartel agreements. According to established case law, these agreements impacted the purchase and leasing of new trucks during the period from January 1, 1998, to December 31, 2011 (cartel period), as well as from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2013 (post-cartel period).
International Dimension of the Truck Cartel
Interestingly, the behavior of the cartel participants was not only identified and sanctioned within the EEA. Similar agreements were also uncovered outside of Europe, such as by the Korean cartel authority in December 2013. The Korean authorities imposed substantial fines on the European truck manufacturers, highlighting the global reach of the cartel activities.
The truck cartel affected several hundred thousand buyers due to its significant market coverage, especially in Germany, where over 90 percent of truck sales were potentially influenced by the cartel agreements.
Directly Affected Companies
Companies directly harmed are those that purchased new trucks from the involved manufacturers or dealers during the cartel period or within the first two years thereafter.
Indirectly Affected Buyers
In addition to the direct buyers, indirectly affected parties, such as lessees, are also impacted. This group includes those who leased trucks and thereby indirectly bore the inflated costs caused by the cartel. They, too, are entitled to compensation, as they suffered financial disadvantages due to the cartel-induced price increases.
Directly Affected Companies
The companies most directly harmed are those that purchased trucks from the involved manufacturers during the cartel period or shortly thereafter. These companies may have paid inflated prices due to the illegal price-fixing agreements, which artificially increased their operating costs and potentially impaired their competitiveness.
Indirectly Affected Parties
In addition to the direct buyers, indirectly affected parties, such as lessees, were also impacted. This group includes companies or individuals who leased trucks and thus indirectly bore the inflated costs caused by the cartel. They, too, have claims for damages as they suffered financial losses due to the cartel-induced price increases.
The sanctioned cartel agreements involved coordinating manufacturer gross prices and jointly scheduling the introduction of emission reduction technologies, particularly concerning the stringent European emission standards. This behavior had direct impacts on medium-duty trucks with a gross vehicle weight of 6 to 16 tons and heavy-duty trucks over 16 tons.
Coordination of Prices
The involved manufacturers coordinated the gross prices for different classes of trucks. These agreements resulted in restricted competition and maintained prices at artificially high levels, to the detriment of buyers and end consumers.
Response to Emission Standards
Another focus of the agreements was the coordinated response to European emission standards, ranging from Euro III to the currently valid Euro VI. The manufacturers agreed on the timeline for introducing new emission reduction technologies. This included both the timing of the market introduction of these technologies and the passing on of the associated costs to the customers.
Impacts and Consequences
These practices were ultimately classified as cartel violations by the EU Commission and accordingly sanctioned. The exposure and penalization of these cartel agreements play a crucial role in ensuring fair market conditions and protecting consumer interests. The intervention of the EU Commission set an important precedent, demonstrating the importance of adhering to antitrust laws for the market’s functionality.