Stellantis' $807-M UK Lawsuit Over Airbag, Seatbelt Cartels Dismissed

Stellantis’ 771-million-euro ($807.62 million) lawsuit against two safety equipment manufacturers was dismissed by a London tribunal, according to a Reuters report by Sam Tobin.

The two companies were fined 368.3 million euros in 2019 for their involvement in price-fixing schemes affecting European automakers. I Photo: Autoliv Facebook

The automaker, formed by the 2021 merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and PSA Group, sued Autoliv and ZF/TRW, accusing them of inflating prices for seatbelts, airbags, and steering wheels.

The European Commission previously found that Sweden’s Autoliv and TRW—acquired by German rival ZF Friedrichshafen in 2014—had engaged in cartel activities that affected Japanese and European car manufacturers.

The two companies were fined 368.3 million euros in 2019 for their involvement in price-fixing schemes affecting European automakers, while a Japanese unit of Autoliv was fined for similar actions involving Japanese automakers.

However, Autoliv and ZF/TRW argued that the European Commission’s lengthy investigation—which they cooperated with—did not find Stellantis to be a target of the cartel. The Competition Appeal Tribunal recently dismissed Stellantis' claim, ruling that the company had failed to prove any cartel activity led to overcharges on its purchases.