Japanese auto parts manufacturer Mitsubishi Electric has been fined $13.4 million after pleading guilty to participating in illegal agreements with industry competitors to determine who would win certain calls for bids issued by Honda and Ford for the supply of alternators, and by General Motors for the supply of ignition coils. Mitsubishi Electric's fine is now the second largest ever imposed for bid rigging in Canada, bringing the total fines ordered in the auto parts investigation to over $84 million.
The auto parts investigation is the largest ever international antitrust investigation. Antitrust authorities in a number of countries, including the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, China, Japan, and Korea. In Canada, the Competition Bureau launched its the investigation in 2009 after receiving more than 160 applications for immunity and leniency.
Mitsubishi Electric received leniency in exchange for assisting the Bureau, and agreed to implement a compliance program to prevent further contravention of the Competition Act.
Previous developments in the Bureau's auto parts investigation include:
- April 1, 2016: Showa Corporation was fined $13 million for rigging bids for electronic power steering gears.
- December 9, 2015: Toyo Tires & Rubber Co., Ltd. was fined $1.7 million for rigging bids for anti-vibration components.
- December 11, 2014: Yamashita Rubber Co., Ltd. was fined $4.5 million for rigging bids for anti-vibration components.
- August 20, 2014: DENSO Corporation was fined $2.45 million for rigging bids for body electronic control units.
- February 20, 2014: Panasonic Corporation was fined $4.7 million for rigging bids for certain types of switches and sensors.
- January 30, 2014: NSK Ltd. was fined $4.5 million for rigging bids for automotive wheel hub unit bearings.
- July 12, 2013: JTEKT Corporation was fined $5 million for rigging bids for automotive wheel hub unit bearings.
- April 18, 2013: Yazaki Corporation was fined $30 million for rigging bids for wire harnesses.
- April 4, 2013: Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. was fined $5 million for rigging bids for electrical boxes.
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