Ford, Honda, BMW, And Volkswagen All Face Antitrust Probe For Colluding With California Over Stricter Emissions Standards

The Justice Department is investigating whether the decision of four automakers in July to reach a voluntary agreement with California to adopt state emissions standards violated antitrust law, people briefed on the matter said.

The antitrust division has sent a letter to the automakers indicating the Justice Department had opened a preliminary inquiry, the people said, and comes as the Trump administration has ramped up its opposition to automakers seeking to sidestep it on rolling back Obama-era fuel efficiency rules.

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xjug1987a - 9/6/2019 1:10:10 PM

+3 Boost

Ha ha!

Agent009 - 9/6/2019 1:54:14 PM

+3 Boost

A very interesting development

JRobUSC - 9/6/2019 3:17:54 PM

-1 Boost

I don't understand. So Ford, Honda, VW, and BMW agreed to make vehicles that exceed the fuel economy and pollution targets the federal government set forth? I could understand the federal government smacking the car companies down if they were trying to make cars that failed to meet federal standards, but how can they go after them for making vehicles that exceed them?

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 9/6/2019 4:12:16 PM

-4 Boost

@JRobUSC - This is being done at the request of the White House. That is the only way it makes sense. It is the President being petty because the world is moving forward without him. Nobody sues a firm or firms for exceeding a national standard. #crazy #dementia #25th #mute

MDarringer - 9/6/2019 7:04:47 PM

+3 Boost

Their collusion infringes on the rights of Americans living in those states, so it is not equal representation under the law.

Funny how when the tables are turned the ALT Left loves collusion.

monster - 9/7/2019 1:49:43 AM

-3 Boost

How is it "infringes on the rights of Americans". Nobody is forcing them to buy the more efficient car. First the manufacturers agreed voluntary and second the consumer is free to choose the car they want. As always the retards are always afraid of change.

countguy - 9/6/2019 4:34:43 PM

0 Boost

Let me find my sharpie.

valhallakey - 9/6/2019 5:47:28 PM

-1 Boost

Antitrust laws are designed in the end to protect the consumer from unfair business practices that can result in a monopoly or collusion to game the system economically like price fixing between companies. I am no lawyer but after looking up the legal definition I don't see at all how this fits? Other car companies are free to agree to meet the higher standards or not. Companies that don't are free to not agree....not sure who is the victim here?

MDarringer - 9/6/2019 7:07:04 PM

+3 Boost

It's an unfair business practice if vehicles in one state face tougher emissions than in others BECAUSE that WILL increase cost and it WILL reduce vehicular options.

valhallakey - 9/7/2019 1:32:51 AM

-1 Boost

Understand what you are saying and that may be true (look at the late 70s Trans AM with an Oldsmobile motor...yuch) however it has been that way since the early 70s. In fact the reason California went with stricter standards had more to do with local weather patterns, frequent inversions etc... that trap those pollutants along the west coastal lands. In addition it may make more sense to those automakers to build engines that are globally acceptable rather than to build special ones for just the US. In any case I don't see this as an antitrust thing??? I guess we will see as things move forward.

Truthy - 9/7/2019 9:31:11 AM

-5 Boost

There is no legal basis. This is a result of the formerly independent DOJ (now bending over for DT) fighting a useless fight to "excite" his shrinking base.
Just 14 more months.

MDarringer - 9/7/2019 10:28:16 AM

+2 Boost

Actually there is a legal basis. You just don't want to face the truth.

MDarringer - 9/6/2019 6:30:20 PM

+1 Boost

BRILLIANT!!

Foncool - 9/7/2019 4:33:37 PM

+7 Boost

Then there is this. https://www.dw.com/en/european-commission-finds-german-automakers-illegally-colluded-on-emissions-technology/a-48218578