The European Commission has taken decisive action against three automotive starter battery manufacturers—Exide, FET (including its predecessor Elettra), and Rombat—along with the trade association EUROBAT, imposing a total fine of approximately €72 million for their involvement in a cartel. This cartel, which lasted over 12 years, was found to have restricted competition in the sale of automotive starter batteries within the European Economic Area (EEA).

Clarios, another manufacturer involved in the cartel, was not fined due to its cooperation with the Commission under the leniency programme, which allows companies to avoid penalties by revealing cartel activities. The investigation revealed that these manufacturers, along with EUROBAT, engaged in anticompetitive agreements that manipulated pricing structures for automotive starter batteries, ultimately leading to higher costs for car and truck manufacturers.

The Commission's findings indicated that the cartel members coordinated the introduction of surcharges based on lead prices, which is a critical input for battery production. This coordination was deemed illegal as it undermined fair competition and allowed the companies to maintain inflated prices.

The fines were calculated based on the companies' sales figures, the duration of the infringement, and the severity of the violation. While Clarios received immunity, FET and Rombat received reduced fines for their cooperation. EUROBAT was fined €125,000 for its role in facilitating the cartel.

This case underscores the Commission's commitment to enforcing EU antitrust rules and ensuring that trade associations do not enable collusion among their members. The fines will contribute to the EU budget, reinforcing the importance of compliance with competition laws.