Two former executives of Espar Inc and a current official have been indicted for conspiring to fix the prices of heaters used in trucks to keep drivers warm, the Justice Department said on Wednesday.
Volker Hohensee, a former president of Espar, Frank Haeusler, a former vice president of a German affiliate, and Harald Sailer, who is still with the company, were accused of working with rivals to push up prices for heaters sold between 2007 and 2012, the department said. Espar has already pleaded guilty to price-fixing, and has paid a fine of $14.9 million.
“These senior company officials conspired to fix the aftermarket prices of parking heaters sold to hundreds of businesses throughout the United States and North America,” said Bill Baer, head of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, in a statement.
The Justice Department and antitrust enforcers around the world have been investigating price-fixing in auto parts for several years. More than 35 companies have pleaded guilty, and more than 60 executives have been charged.
Full content: Reuters
Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.
Featured News
Trump Nominates Olivia Trusty for FCC Commissioner Role Ahead of Inauguration
Jan 16, 2025 by
CPI
Lawyers Claim eXp’s Settlement Tactics Hurt Antitrust Case Potential
Jan 16, 2025 by
CPI
Amex GBT Pushes Back Against DOJ Lawsuit Over CWT Acquisition
Jan 16, 2025 by
CPI
Belgium Opens Antitrust Probe into AB InBev’s Market Practices
Jan 16, 2025 by
CPI
Tech Groups Sue CFPB Over New Rule on Digital Wallet Oversight
Jan 16, 2025 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – CRESSE Insights
Dec 19, 2024 by
CPI
Effective Interoperability in Mobile Ecosystems: EU Competition Law Versus Regulation
Dec 19, 2024 by
Giuseppe Colangelo
The Use of Empirical Evidence in Antitrust: Trends, Challenges, and a Path Forward
Dec 19, 2024 by
Eliana Garces
Some Empirical Evidence on the Role of Presumptions and Evidentiary Standards on Antitrust (Under)Enforcement: Is the EC’s New Communication on Art.102 in the Right Direction?
Dec 19, 2024 by
Yannis Katsoulacos
The EC’s Draft Guidelines on the Application of Article 102 TFEU: An Economic Perspective
Dec 19, 2024 by
Benoit Durand