Trade investigators in both the U.S. and Japan are looking into price fixing allegations against several auto parts suppliers, including Denso Corp.
The Japan Fair Trade Commission raided Denso offices in Kariya on July 20, according to reports, while U.S. law enforcement authorities and those in other countries launched similar investigations into Denso and other Japanese auto parts makers.
The Toyota-owned Denso is the world’s second largest auto parts producer and supplier.
In Japan, the other companies being investigated include Mitsubishi Electric Corp., Hitachi Automotive Systems Ltd., Calsonic Kansei Corp., Mitsuba Corp., T.RAD Co., and Asmo Co., a Denso subsidiary. The commission is investigating allegations that since 2002 some or all of the companies colluded to establish prices and pre-determine which company would win certain OE contracts.
The U.S. probe is also looking into separate price-fixing allegations involving most of the same companies, including Denso. The exact scope of investigations in the U.S. and other countries is not clear.
