Edwin Coe brews up a group action against truck cartel

The brewery supply chain as a whole relies heavily on road transport. For 14 years, truck manufacturers who account for around 9 out of every 10 medium and heavy trucks produced in Europe were involved in a fraudulent price fixing cartel.

Edwin Coe, the UK’s leading collective action litigation firm, is now leading a group action on behalf of claimants seeking damages from these truck producers.

Five truck manufacturers, MAN, Volvo/Renault, Daimler, Iveco and DAF, admitted to the European Commission that they participated in a price fixing cartel fraud against purchasers of their trucks from 1997 until 2011. These manufacturers colluded for 14 years on truck pricing and on passing on the costs of compliance with stricter emission rules. Additionally, Scania fought the allegations but has recently been found guilty by the Commission and fined €880 million. The total fines across manufacturers are €3.7 billion.

The manufacturers now face claims of €100 billion across the EU.

Edwin Coe has put together a team of lawyers and specialist economists to run the claims. It is already acting for major high street names.

Zahira Hussain, Edwin Coe solicitor said “We are looking to help breweries and drinks sector businesses make their claim, whether they operate a large fleet of delivery trucks or perhaps only one or two.

Companies will have a claim in damages in relation to the difference between the higher price that was paid by them as a result of the cartel, and the purchase price of trucks that would have been payable, had there been no cartel. These claims are called “follow-on damages” claims. It is estimated that some 10 million trucks were sold across the EU during this period and that each one may have been overpriced by up to £10,000.

Companies that bought, leased or outsourced trucks weighing 6 tonnes or more between 1997 and 2011 will have a claim. Through Edwin Coe, these businesses can pursue that claim without cost or risk.”

We have prepared a video in which David Greene, our Head of Litigation & Dispute Resolution discusses the cartel with a focus on the brewing industry.

For more information and to view our video, please see our dedicated site http://trucksclaims.co.uk Truck owners and operators who would like to register their interest should contact Zahira Hussain
(t: 020 7691 4000 e: zahira.hussain@edwincoe.com)