Justice Department Drops Antitrust Probe of Auto Makers Involved in California Emissions Deal
February 07 2020 - 5:53PM
Dow Jones News
By Brent Kendall and Timothy Puko
WASHINGTON -- The Justice Department has closed its antitrust
investigation of four auto makers that had reached a tailpipe
emissions deal last summer with the state of California, according
to people familiar with the matter.
After examining the matter for several months, the department
concluded that the auto makers -- Ford Motor Co., Honda Motor Co.,
BMW AG and Volkswagen AG -- didn't engage in conduct that violated
U.S. antitrust law, the people said.
At issue was a July agreement between the auto makers and the
California Air Resources Board on fuel efficiency standards, a
state-based framework that is at odds with the Trump
administration's regulatory approach.
Justice Department officials questioned whether the companies
agreed among themselves on the outlines of the deal with California
regulators, and the auto makers received formal civil subpoenas in
the fall.
Mary Nichols, chairwoman of the California Air Resources Board,
has said the state worked individually with the auto makers and
that all parties were mindful of not violating antitrust laws.
The New York Times first reported the Justice Department's
closing of the probe.
Write to Brent Kendall at brent.kendall@wsj.com and Timothy Puko
at tim.puko@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
February 07, 2020 17:38 ET (22:38 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2020 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Bayerische Motoren Werke (TG:BMW)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
Bayerische Motoren Werke (TG:BMW)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024
