The European Commission has imposed fines totaling approximately €72 million on three automotive starter battery manufacturers—Exide, FET (including its predecessor Elettra), and Rombat—as well as the trade association EUROBAT. The fines are the result of participation in a cartel that restricted competition for over 12 years in the market for automotive starter batteries within the European Economic Area. Clarios (formerly JC Autobatterie) was also involved but was not fined after revealing the cartel under the Commission’s leniency programme.
According to the Commission’s investigation, from July 2005 to December 2017, Clarios, Exide, FET, and Rombat, with support from EUROBAT, coordinated their pricing strategies by agreeing to create and publish lead purchasing premiums (the so-called EUROBAT premiums) in an industry publication. These premiums were then used during price negotiations with car and truck manufacturers to keep surcharges at artificially high levels.
“Today’s decision concludes that the conduct of the four automotive starter battery manufacturers and EUROBAT constitutes a single and continuous infringement, amounting to an infringement by object under Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (‘TFEU’) and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement, which prohibit agreements and other restrictive business practices that may affect trade and prevent or restrict competition within the Single Market.”
Fines were determined based on several factors including annual sales values within the EEA market, duration of involvement in the cartel, seriousness of violations, geographic scope, and company market shares. Exide received a fine of €30 million; FET was fined €6.11 million (with part jointly payable with parent company Resonac); Elettra’s fine was set at €15.594 million but capped at zero for Dofin due to lack of economic activity; Rombat faced a fine of €20.218 million (with part jointly payable with parent Metair); and EUROBAT received a lump sum fine of €125,000 for its facilitating role.
Clarios avoided penalties entirely after cooperating with authorities through leniency procedures. FET/Resonac and Rombat/Metair also received reductions in their fines—50% for FET/Resonac and 30% for Rombat/Metair—for cooperating with investigators.
Several companies requested reductions due to inability to pay; one request was granted following financial assessments by EU authorities. In some cases companies will be allowed to pay fines in annual installments.
Automotive starter batteries are essential components for vehicles powered by combustion engines. Lead is a critical input material requiring higher purity standards than those typically traded on commodity exchanges like London Metal Exchange.
The Commission’s case originated after Johnson Controls International PLC (including subsidiary Clarios) submitted an application under its leniency programme in September 2017. Formal proceedings began in November 2023 against several firms as well as service provider Kellen; following review responses from parties involved between March-April 2024 proceedings against Banner and Kellen were closed without sanctions.
EU antitrust rules prohibit agreements or coordinated practices that could hinder competition across member states’ markets under Article 101 TFEU and related regulations such as Regulation 1/2003. Proceeds from antitrust fines go into general EU funds rather than being earmarked for specific purposes; this helps reduce future member state contributions to EU budgets.
Further details about this case can be found once confidentiality issues are resolved via case number AT.40545 on the Commission’s public case register. Information about actions against cartels is available on the Commission’s cartels website.
The Commission encourages whistleblowers to report anti-competitive behavior anonymously using its encrypted messaging tool.
Individuals or companies affected by such anti-competitive practices can seek damages through national courts across EU member states according to established case law (Antitrust Damages Directive). The directive simplifies claims processes for victims seeking compensation.