Five Japanese Suppliers Face Anti-Trust Charges

Japan's Fair Trade Commission will impose penalties on five domestic auto parts makers charged with violating anti-trust laws, according to local news reports that cite anonymous sources.

The FTC reportedly alleges that the companies conspired to rig bids and fix prices for alternators, radiators, starters and windshield wipers since about 2002. The charges stem from an ongoing probe by authorities in Japan, the European Union and the U.S. into auto supplier cartels.

News outlets say the affected companies are Calsonic Kansei, Hitachi Automotive, Mitsuba, Mitsubishi Electronic and T. Rad. The Japan Times reports that fines on each company could range as high as 1 billion yen (€10 million).