Toyota, Honda cut spare part prices as antitrust probe expands
Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co.'s Chinese ventures joined Mercedes-Benz and Audi AG in reducing prices of spare parts amid an antitrust investigation into the auto industry.
GAC Toyota Motor Co., the Japanese maker's venture with China's GAC Group, said Sunday that it will cut prices on some components on Aug. 18.
Guangqi Honda Automobile Co., Honda's venture with GAC, will lower some parts prices on Sept. 1, according to a separate statement.
China is stepping up scrutiny of foreign carmakers' pricing policies for vehicles and spare parts. The government began looking into possible antitrust violations in 2011 as state media accused manufacturers of inflating prices and overcharging consumers.
BMW AG will reduce prices on more than 2,000 components by an average of 20 percent starting Aug. 11, the automaker said.
Mercedes-Benz will cut spare parts prices in China by an average of 15 percent next month, while Audi will lower replacement costs of its parts as much as 38 percent on Aug. 1.
Antitrust officials in eastern Jiangsu province have begun investigations of Mercedes-Benz dealers in five cities including Suzhou and Wuxi.
Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz's Shanghai office was raided by local officials of the National Development and Reform Commission, NDRC spokesman Li Pumin said in a briefing in Beijing on Aug. 6.
The government also will punish Chrysler Group LLC and Audi for engaging in monopolistic actions, he said.
The NDRC is undertaking the investigation to protect competitiveness and safeguard consumer interests, Li said at the briefing. The commission has completed an investigation into 12 Japanese companies and soon will announce actions that it will take, he said.
Guangqi Honda Automobile Co., Honda's venture with GAC, will lower some parts prices on Sept. 1, according to a separate statement.
China is stepping up scrutiny of foreign carmakers' pricing policies for vehicles and spare parts. The government began looking into possible antitrust violations in 2011 as state media accused manufacturers of inflating prices and overcharging consumers.
BMW AG will reduce prices on more than 2,000 components by an average of 20 percent starting Aug. 11, the automaker said.
Mercedes-Benz will cut spare parts prices in China by an average of 15 percent next month, while Audi will lower replacement costs of its parts as much as 38 percent on Aug. 1.
Antitrust officials in eastern Jiangsu province have begun investigations of Mercedes-Benz dealers in five cities including Suzhou and Wuxi.
Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz's Shanghai office was raided by local officials of the National Development and Reform Commission, NDRC spokesman Li Pumin said in a briefing in Beijing on Aug. 6.
The government also will punish Chrysler Group LLC and Audi for engaging in monopolistic actions, he said.
The NDRC is undertaking the investigation to protect competitiveness and safeguard consumer interests, Li said at the briefing. The commission has completed an investigation into 12 Japanese companies and soon will announce actions that it will take, he said.
