European Commission Decision 2020/1/EU

Basis of the Case
The European Commission launched a cartel probe into the 'Circle of Five' (Five German automobile companies) as a result of the Emissions scandal in which they were found to have conspired to limit the development of clean emissions technology.

Conspiring to prevent the development of clean energy technology and avoiding national and European emissions regulations and taxation, whilst enabling their customers to do so too, has been cited as the key factors in the conclusion of the case to fine the companies involved.

The probe which began after the Volkswagen Emissions Scandal in the Autumn of 2015 ended in May 2020 with the European Commission, in this case the European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, opting to fine the Circle of Five (BMW, Daimler, Volkswagen, Porsche and Audi) a total of €3.4bn. The total penalty is to be split by each of the companies based on total yearly revenue. A secondary penalty was also decided upon; namely requiring the Circle of Five to rectify the environmental damage done by cars using emissions-cheating technology by deploying carbon-scrubbing technology.

The Circle of Five has been given until 2030 to rectify existing environmental damage and until January the 1st 2021 to pay the fine to the European Commission.