Report Claims European Automakers Collusion

VW, Porsche, Audi, Daimler, and BMW could all be in hot water. Der Spiegel, a German publication, broke the news that every major automaker in Germany is under investigation for forming an illegal automotive cartel.

Sound bizarre? It is, but it might be true. These are just allegations for now, so we’ll see how it plays out.

These companies supposedly worked together to leverage steel prices, tech components, and whatever else they wanted. That might not seem bad, but in the European Union it’s against the law.

Even better, investigators reportedly have evidence that ties into Dieselgate. Mainly, the Der Spiegel report says engineers from the companies were swapping ways to cheat government emissions tests. That would explain why Daimler and BMW are still dealing with Dieselgate-like allegations.

Supposedly, investigators think this cartel has been around since the 1990s. That’s a long time for a conspiracy, but it isn’t unheard of.

If they’re found guilty by authorities, these automakers could be in a world of hurt. Fines in the European Union run into the billions for this type of wrongdoing. Not only would it put each automaker in a pinch, it could effectively kill diesel cars in the near future.