Chinese regulators have requested information from German car makers regarding a European Union probe into possible collusion on the development of emissions technology, a sign that they may be considering launching their own probe, reported Morningstar.
The Chinese Competition Authority requested information from Volkswagen and its Audi and Porsche AG subsidiaries in March, VW said in its first-quarter report on Thursday. A BMW spokesman said Thursday that “there has been contact with the Chinese antitrust authorities,” but declined to comment further citing continuing internal and external investigations.
A Daimler spokeswoman said the company is fully cooperating with the Chinese authorities. China’s Ministry of Commercedidn’t immediately reply to a request for comment.
Last month, the European Commission said BMW, Daimler and Volkswagen may have breached antitrust rules by allegedly colluding to restrict competition on the development of emissions-cleaning technology for gas and diesel cars.
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