The legal proceedings stem from a comprehensive European Commission investigation concluded in 2016, which revealed systematic anti-competitive practices among major truck manufacturers. The investigation found that industry giants including Daimler, DAF, Iveco, MAN, and Volvo/Renault had engaged in serious competition law violations between January 1997 and January 2011.
These violations were extensive, encompassing price coordination across the European truck market, collusion on the timing of new emission technologies and deliberate passing of related costs onto customers.
The investigation resulted in substantial fines, with the total penalties against the cartel reaching nearly €3 billion. Notably, Scania was fined €880 million in 2017 for its role in anti-competitive practices.
Responding to these findings, Waberer’s initiated legal proceedings on 18 July 2017 at the Munich Regional Court. The company filed a comprehensive lawsuit seeking compensation for damages related to trucks purchased or leased during the cartel’s operational period. The initial compensation claim was substantial, originally standing at €26.6 million.
Waberer’s has pursued a strategic approach to resolving the litigation through a series of out-of-court settlements:
- April 2023 – 1st out-of-court settlement: reduced compensation claim from €26.6 million to an undisclosed amount, one unnamed manufacturer removed from the lawsuit
- November 2024 – 2nd out-of-court settlement: further reduced the claim by €2.8 million to €23.8 million, another unnamed manufacturer released from the lawsuit
- December 2024 – third out-of-court settlement: compensation claim reduced to €6.9 million plus associated interest, a third manufacturer removed from the legal proceedings.
The most recent agreement brings several key developments; the specific truck manufacturer will be completely removed from the legal proceedings while Waberer’s remaining compensation claim has been reduced to €6.9 million.
Both parties have maintained strict confidentiality regarding the financial terms of the settlement
Waberer’s remains committed to pursuing its compensation claims. The company has emphasised that legal proceedings will continue against the remaining truck manufacturers involved in the original antitrust case.