The Competition Council has issued a fine of around EUR 120,000 for eight companies in the car batteries market (one producer and seven distributors), citing price fixing practices on the reseller segment.
The anti-trust watchdog said that during 2010 and 2015 there was a market fixing deal between car battery producer Caranda Baterii and the following distribution firms (Ani Auto Sport S.R.L., Uto-Ovarom S.R.L., Barady Services S.R.L, Beda Impex S.R.L., Marcat Invest S.R.L, Mecantu S.R.L, Stanciu-Service S.N.C).
“By closing these deals, the sides have covered benefits for themselves from the sale of car batteries CARANDA, with the end consumer having to pay for products at prices that were not based on the demand and offer mechanism,” said the Competition Council in a statement.
Caranda Baterii and six of the distribution firms have admitted their involvement in the illegal deal and got a 30 percent reduction of the fine.
Meanwhile, the competition watchdog has a separate investigation involving car batteries producer Rombat and its distributors.