Denso to Pay $255M in Auto Parts Price-Fixing Class Action Settlement

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Denso Corp. has announced that it will pay a total of about $255 million to settle its portion of the massive auto parts price-fixing litigation (In re: Automotive Parts Antitrust Litigation).

Under the terms of the proposed settlement, Denso will pay car buyers about $193.8 million and auto dealers about $61.2 million.

The Denso class action settlement is just one of many settlements to be reached in the massive auto parts price-fixing litigation, which stems from an ongoing investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice into the automotive parts industry.

That DOJ investigation has so far resulted in more than $2 billion in fines from auto parts makers.

According to the auto parts price-fixing class action lawsuit, the auto parts makers engaged in a conspiracy to rig bids and fix prices they charged automakers, resulting in consumers paying inflated prices for new vehicles.

This price-fixing scheme allegedly spanned more than a decade and involved auto parts makers from around the world.

In March 2012, Denso pled guilty and agreed to pay a $78 million fine following the DOJ’s investigation into its role in the auto parts price-fixing scheme. Denso was under investigation for conspiring to fix the prices of heater control panels and electric control units between 2000 and 2010.

According to the settlement documents, Denso was also accused of price-fixing for automotive wire harness systems and fuel senders.

“Today’s settlement brings the recoveries in this case to $482 million,” Steven N. Williams of Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, LLP who is representing the end-payor plaintiffs said in a statement. “This settlement and this litigation have been difficult and hard-fought since the case began in 2011, and we will continue the fight against the remaining defendants to recover for our clients and the classes.”

More information about how to file a claim for the Denso class action settlement was not immediately available. However, a website has been established with information about the auto parts price-fixing litigation. It is being updated when settlements are reached. To stay updated on the progress, visit our page covering the auto parts price-fixing class action settlement or register for updates at www.AutoPartsClass.com.

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The consumers are represented by Hollis Salzman, Bernard Persky and William V. Reiss of Robins Kaplan LLP, Steven N. Williams, Demetrius X. Lambrinos and Elizabeth Tran of Cotchett Pitre & McCarthy LLP, Marc M. Seltzer, Steve G. Sklaver, Terrell W. Oxford, Chanler A. Langham and Omar Ochoa of Susman Godfrey LLP and E. Powell Miller and Devon P. Allard of The Miller Law Firm PC.

The Auto Parts Price-Fixing Class Action Lawsuit is In re: Automotive Parts Antitrust Litigation, Case No. 2:12-md-02311, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.