Mercedes-Benz: distribution of commercial vehicles (trucks and vans)

Office of Fair Trading (OFT) closed Competition Act 1998 case.

• From: Competition and Markets Authority
• Published: 27 March 2013

• Case type: CA98 and civil cartels
• Case state: Closed
• Market sector: Motor industry
• Outcome: CA98 - infringement Chapter I
• Opened: 1 January 2010
• Closed: 27 March 2013

No. CE/9161-09

Advice for the motor industry

27 June 2014: Advice for the motor industry on competition law compliance has been published by the CMA.

Summary of work

In January 2010, the OFT launched a formal investigation into suspected breaches of the Chapter I prohibition of the Competition Act 1998 in the distribution of Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles (trucks and vans).

On 28 June 2012, the OFT issued a Statement of Objections to Mercedes-Benz and five dealers of Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles who are mainly active within areas in the North of England and parts of Wales and Scotland.

On 21 February 2013, the OFT announced that Mercedes-Benz and three of the dealers, Ciceley, Road Range and Enza, had admitted infringing competition law and agreed to pay fines totalling £2.6 million.

On 27 March 2013, the OFT issued infringement decisions finding that Mercedes-Benz and five of its commercial vehicles dealers infringed competition law and imposed fines totalling over £2.8 million.

The decisions relate to:

• Decision 1: the distribution of vans between 23 March 2007 and 26 January 2010, involving H&L Garages and Northside
• Decision 2: the distribution of vans between 15 January 2008 and 26 January 2010, involving Ciceley and Northside
• Decision 3: the distribution of vans between 1 February 2008 and 26 January 2010, involving Ciceley and Road Range
• Decision 4: the distribution of trucks between 13 June 2008 and 26 January 2010, involving H&L Garages and Northside
• Decision 5: the distribution of trucks between 8 December 2009 and 26 January 2010, involving Ciceley, Enza, Mercedes-Benz and Road Range

Related documents

• Press release: OFT issues statement of objections against Mercedes-Benz and five commercial vehicle dealers (28 June 2012)
• Press release: Mercedes-Benz and three commercial vehicle dealers to pay £2.6 million for breaching competition law (21 February 2013)
• Press release: OFT issues five infringement decisions in the distribution of Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles investigation ( 27 March 2013)
• Download a non-confidential version of Decision 1 (PDF, 722KB)
• Download a non-confidential version of Decision 2 (PDF. 3.7MB)
• Download a non-confidential version of Decision 3 (PDF, 6.9MB)
• Download a non-confidential version of Decision 4 (PDF, 781KB)
• Download a non-confidential version of Decision 5 (PDF, 12.6MB)

Published 27 March 2013