European Union regulators today fined Japanese electronics giants Sony, Panasonic and Sanyo $76 million for colluding with the price of charging batteries.
European Union regulators today fined Japanese electronics giants Sony, Panasonic and Sanyo $76 million for colluding with the price of charging batteries.
The European Commission, the EU's executive body, said the three companies "coordinated prices and exchanged sensitive information" on rechargeable lithium between 2004 and 2007"ion batteries.
South Korea's Samsung is also involved in the cartel, but has not been fined for revealing the cartel to the Commission.
"Millions of Europeans use laptops, mobile phones and power tools that use rechargeable lithium --
Margaret Vestager, EU competition director, said in a statement.
"Today's decision sanctions four charging battery producers whose collusion affects the prices of some of the goods sold to European consumers," she added . ".
The commission said all companies agreed to their responsibility in the case and accepted the fine.
Sanyo, which is now owned by Panasonic, has received a maximum fine of 97 million euros.
The Commission imposed a fine of £ 39 on Panasonic.
Sony, 9 million euros and 29 euros. 8 million euros.