December 14, 2023: EUROBAT has told Batteries International it will fight claims that the trade association has been involved in alleged price-fixing among major lead battery manufacturers.

Batteries International revealed on December 6 that EU competition chiefs had accused Clarios, Exide Technologies, Banner, Rombat, Fiamm Energy Technology and its predecessor Elettra of possible collusion to fix starter battery prices, aided by trade association EUROBAT.

The Commission has launched an investigation into the alleged breaches of EU antitrust rules — which could potentially see the firms face substantial fines — up to 10% of their annual global turnover if the Commission concludes there is sufficient evidence rules were broken.

The Commission said it was “concerned EUROBAT and its service provider, Kellen, were aware of the alleged conduct and actively contributed to it by assisting the battery manufacturers in creating and running the so-called EUROBAT premium system”.

A EUROBAT spokesperson told Batteries International on December 8 the association’s legal counsellor has reviewed the ‘statement of objections’ it has received — a formal step in the Commission’s investigations — for the first time and EUROBAT “intends to contest the allegations mentioned”.

Meanwhile Metair Investments, which owns Rombat  said on December 6 it was considering the statement of objections it had received in detail.

“Rombat, as with all Metair companies, remains committed to conducting its business in full compliance with European law,” the group said.

The Clarios director of external global communication and communications for the EMEA region, Christian Riedel, told Batteries International previously: “We do not comment on pending investigations and legal proceedings, but we don’t believe we have any material exposure. We are cooperating with authorities in their investigation.”

The Commission’s probe is focused on the period between 2004 up to 2017. It is alleged the firms published and agreed to use new indices in their price negotiations with car producers, the aim of which was — allegedly — to fix an important element of the final battery prices.

A spokesperson for the Commission told Batteries International on December 11 they could not comment on the origins of the probe, including whether the investigation had been triggered by an industry whistleblower or any kind of complaint.