On March 15, the EU antitrust agency raided a number of auto companies and industry associations in several countries, suspecting that they had violated the EU's Cartel rules, according to foreign media reports. Subsequently, the UK's competition regulator also launched an investigation.

The European Union raided to examine global automakers

According to Reuters, the European Commission also sent a request for information to the company, but did not disclose the company's name. The EU competition enforcement agency said in a statement that the inspection and information requirements involved possible collusion in the collection, handling and recycling of end-of-life cars and vans that are considered waste.

Renault confirmed that European Commission investigators visited the company on the 15th and said it was fully cooperating with the investigation. Opel, the world's fourth-largest automaker, Stellantis, said its offices had been searched by investigators. Opel said in a statement that the subject of the investigation was the recycling sector of end-of-life cars. Of course, we will fully cooperate with the authorities.

German automaker BMW said it had received a request for information and would respond. Mercedes-Benz said it did not expect to be fined as it had submitted information to EU regulators and the UK's Competition and Markets Authority as a leniency applicant.

EU antitrust regulators are investigating some unnamed automakers and some industry bodies' own end-of-life car investigations, in cooperation with the European Commission. Ford Motor (FORD) said in a statement that it had received a notice about the recycling of old or end-of-life vehicles, particularly cars and vans, also known as end-of-life vehicles.