South Korea’s antitrust watchdog said that it has slapped a combined 1.78 billion-won ($1.57 million) fine on Mercedes-Benz Korea and its dealerships for fixing labor costs for auto repairs.
Mercedes-Benz Korea, the local unit and importer of German carmaker Daimler AG, allegedly suggested to eight dealerships fixing rates for labor costs in January 2009 to improve its balance sheet, according to the Fair Trade Commission.
A few months later, the dealers, including Hansung Motor Co. and Class Hyosung, raised the rate and set the same prices for their repair services.
All eight companies set the same 58,000 won per hour (US$50.62 per hour) for general repair work and 55,000 (US$50) for maintenance services.
The FTC imposed a 1.32 billion-won (US$1.2 million) fine on Mercedes-Benz Korea and a combined 468 million won (US$408,466) on the eight dealerships.
Full Content: The Investor
Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.
Featured News
Vista and Blackstone in Advanced Talks to Acquire Smartsheet in $8 Billion Deal
Sep 17, 2024 by
CPI
Ursula von der Leyen Appoints Spanish Minister to Key Role in European Commission
Sep 17, 2024 by
CPI
US Judge Dismisses Antitrust Lawsuit Against Bayer, Corteva, and Syngenta
Sep 17, 2024 by
CPI
YouTube CEO Argues Google’s Innovation, Not Monopoly, Drove Ad Tech Success
Sep 16, 2024 by
CPI
Samsung, Xiaomi Among Smartphone Brands Allegedly Involved in eCommerce Collusion In India
Sep 16, 2024 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – Canada & Mexico
Sep 3, 2024 by
CPI
Competitive Convergence: Mexico’s 30-Year Quest for Antitrust Parity with its Northern Neighbor
Sep 3, 2024 by
Francisco Javier Núñez Melgoza
Competition and Digital Markets in North America: A Comparative Study of Antitrust Investigations in Mexico and the United States
Sep 3, 2024 by
Julio Garcia
Recent Antitrust Development in Mexico: COFECE’s Preliminary Report on Amazon and Mercado Libre
Sep 3, 2024 by
Alejandra Palacios Prieto
The Cost of Making COFECE Disappear
Sep 3, 2024 by
Mateo Fernández