Chinese and overseas companies in the auto industry, including manufacturers, suppliers and dealers, are involved in anti-monopoly investigations.
China's antitrust action reflecting its resolve to prevent market leaders from jeopardizing consumer interests through price manipulation.
A total of 12 Japanese auto parts suppliers have been fined 1.24 billion yuan ($201 million) due to a price monopoly, China's top price regulator confirmed Wednesday.
Antitrust probes into foreign companies in China will not scare away foreign investors despite the inflow of overseas spending in July hitting a two-year low.
Official said Mercedes-Benz case is a typical vertical price fixing. It manipulated the prices of spare parts and maintenance on the after-sales market.
Although the Chinese government launched antitrust investigations of only Audi, Chrysler and 12 Japanese spare parts companies, the move has caused tremors among foreign car brands.
Four BMW dealers in Wuhan, Hubei province were the first to be fined by China's anti-monopoly campaign targeting luxury automakers, eeo.com.cn reported on Wednesday.
A Chinese antitrust adviser is removed from his position for taking large payments from Qualcomm for his consulting services.
Shanghai General Motors said they have been contacted by Chinese anti-monopoly regulators as part of an investigation of the auto industry.
Western media commentators seem ready to accuse China of foul play whenever foreign enterprises are concerned.
Tianjin is investigating whether local real estate agencies have been involved in collusive pricing, amid a wave of antitrust probes against leading foreign technology and vehicle companies.
China's recent wave of antitrust probes does not specifically target foreign multinational enterprises operating.
China's ongoing anti-monopoly investigations into foreign auto makers are aimed at building a fair market.
Top executives from FAW-Volkswagen Audi and its dealers from Hubei province were interviewed by China's antitrust regulators on Thursday, 21st Century Business Herald reported.
China on Wednesday announced that it will punish two auto giants for monopolistic practices, indicating a step up in enforcement of the country's six-year-old Anti-Monopoly Law.
China's antitrust agency on Wednesday confirmed that 12 Japanese auto parts and bearings manufacturers have been investigated.
Investigations into Chrysler and Audi have found that both automakers have been pursuing monopoly tactics, and they will receive punishment soon.
China's anti-monopoly officials have searched the German automaker's Shanghai office, and questioned top leaders and staff members.
The Chinese government is taking action to make the distribution of automobiles more transparent through simplifying the application and administration process.
One of the biggest mobile chipmakers in the world lost $13 billion in market value due to negative impact created by an anti-monopoly investigation in China.
German automaker Mercedes-Benz will cut the prices of spare parts by an average of 15 percent in after-sales maintenance for all models as of Sept 1 in China.
International giants and Chinese companies have been investigated for monopoly in the past several months. Given their large sales and investment numbes, it is not surprising that they could dictate the product retail price, even the service and spare parts charges.
China conducted proper investigations into alleged law-breaching activities by black sheep, aiming at fair play for law-abiding firms and consumers' rights in the country.
