Searches were not carried out in all of the listed companies – some, for example, Ford, BMW and Volkswagen, have so far only received a letter from the EU antitrust authorities. According to Automotive News, investigators visited the Opel and Renault facilities, and both brands were quick to assure that they were cooperating with the investigation. The European Commission noted that the checks and requests for information relate to “possible collusion regarding the collection, processing and disposal of end-of-life cars and vans,” but do not yet mean that such charges have been brought against automakers. Companies caught violating EU antitrust rules face fines of up to 10 percent of their global turnover.
Automotive News estimates that around 12,000 cars are scrapped in Europe each year. Under current laws, automakers are responsible for scrapping cars that are no longer serviceable: the rules require that roughly 85 percent of a car’s weight be recycled or reused.