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VW Group, BMW and Daimler Are Under Investigation For Collusion In Europe (cnet.com)
The European Commission has launched an antitrust investigation into the Volkswagen Group, BMW and Daimler, over allegations they colluded to keep certain emissions control devices from reaching the market in Europe, according to a statement the Commission released on Tuesday. CNET reports: The technologies the group allegedly sought to bury include a selective catalytic reduction system for diesel vehicles, which would help to reduce environmentally problematic oxides of nitrogen in passenger cars, and "Otto" particulate filters that trap particulate matter from gasoline combustion engines.
"The Commission is investigating whether BMW, Daimler and VW agreed not to compete against each other on the development and roll-out of important systems to reduce harmful emissions from petrol and diesel passenger cars," said Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, head of competition policy for the European Commission, in a statement. "These technologies aim at making passenger cars less damaging to the environment. If proven, this collusion may have denied consumers the opportunity to buy less polluting cars, despite the technology being available to the manufacturers."
"The Commission is investigating whether BMW, Daimler and VW agreed not to compete against each other on the development and roll-out of important systems to reduce harmful emissions from petrol and diesel passenger cars," said Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, head of competition policy for the European Commission, in a statement. "These technologies aim at making passenger cars less damaging to the environment. If proven, this collusion may have denied consumers the opportunity to buy less polluting cars, despite the technology being available to the manufacturers."
... Except a token gesture. Germany's car industry is vital to German economy, and Europe's economy IS German economy. That's just the way it is. That's why Dieselgate was a powerful shock to the whole EU and a "friendly" reminder from president Obama that the US can turn off the EU at any given moment without Europeans being able to do anything about it. Junker is huffing and puffing and making a big show of challenging Trump's America because he knows that retaliatory measures against the EU would be opposed by Democrats, while a Dem president with a Dem majority would have been unimaginably dangerous to defy. Hillary would have laid down the law, in even harsher terms than Obama did, with Euros having no choice but to comply. But Junker also understands that he's on his last legs and he can drop everything over his successor, who must only hope push does not come to shove. If it boils down to US interests vs EU interests, both parties will stare down the EU and bring it to heel.