Mitsubishi, DENSO, Other Fuel Injector Direct Purchasers Price Fixing $13M Class Action Settlement

Several companies, including Mitsubishi, that sell fuel injection systems have agreed to over $13 million in antitrust class action settlements to resolve claims of fuel injector price fixing.

The settlement benefits consumers who made direct purchases of fuel injection systems between Jan. 1, 2000, and March 12, 2018, from Mitsubishi Electric, Hiams, Mitsuba, Denso, Aisan, Mikuni, Keihin, and/or Maruyasu. Fuel injection systems include a number of parts that allow “fuel or a fuel/air mixture into engine cylinders,” according to the settlement website. 

Indirect purchasers — those who purchased a product that included fuel injection systems from the defendants — are not included in this settlement.

Fuel injection systems are responsible for delivering fuel to the engine in vehicles, allowing the vehicles to function and use fuel efficiently. Automotive manufacturers, mechanics, and other consumers may purchase fuel injection systems and parts from manufacturers such as Mitsubishi Electric, Hiams, Mitsuba, Denso, Aisan, Mikuni, Keihin, and Maruyasu.

In May 2015, a direct purchaser filed a massive class action lawsuit against numerous automotive companies, including Mitsubishi, alleging the defendants violated antitrust laws with fuel injector price-fixing agreements. Under the terms of these agreements, the defendants allegedly raised, fixed, and stabilized prices, rigged purchasing bids, and committed other actions to manipulate the price of their fuel injection systems.

As a result of these agreements, direct purchasers were allegedly forced to pay a higher price for Mitsubishi and others’ fuel injector systems and parts than they would have in a fair market.

The defendants have not admitted any wrongdoing in the case but have agreed to over $13.16 million in settlements to resolve antitrust claims against them.

Mitsubishi Electric, Hiams, Mitshuba, and DENSO agreed to over $10.1 million in settlements approved in October 2019. In these settlements, Mitsubishi agreed to pay over $2.12 million, Hiams agreed to pay over $7.36 million, Mitsuba agreed to pay $529,716, and DENSO agreed to pay $100,000.

The most recent settlements total $3.052 million, the Iosco County News-Herald reported. Under these deals, Aisan will pay $2.01 million, Mikuni will pay $865,000, Keihin will pay $97,000, and Maruyasu will pay $80,000.

Under the terms of the fuel injector price fixing settlements, direct purchasers can recover monetary payments to compensate them for fuel injection system purchases. Settlement payments may vary widely, as each defendant’s fuel injector antitrust settlement operates under its own terms.

The deadline for exclusion and objection is Jan. 31, 2022.

The final approval hearing for the fuel injector price fixing settlement is scheduled for March 10, 2022.

In order to benefit from the fuel injector antitrust settlement, Class Members must file a valid claim form by March 25, 2022.

Who’s Eligible

The settlement benefits consumers who made direct purchases of fuel injection systems between Jan. 1, 2000, and March 12, 2018, from Mitsubishi Electric, Hiams, Mitsuba, Denso, Aisan, Mikuni, Keihin, and/or Maruyasu. Fuel injection systems include a number of parts that allow “fuel or a fuel/air mixture into engine cylinders,” according to the settlement website. 

Potential Award

Varies

Proof of Purchase

The settlement administrator may ask you to provide supporting information.

Claim Form

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Claim Form Deadline

03/25/2022

Case Name

In Re: Automotive Parts Antitrust Litigation, Case No. 2:12-md-02311 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan Southern Division

Final Hearing

03/10/2022

Settlement Website

AutoPartsAntitrustLitigation.com

Claims Administrator

Fuel Injection Systems Direct Purchaser Antitrust Litigation
P.O. Box 3656
Portland, OR 97208-3656
888-266-9280

Class Counsel

Steven A. Kanner
FREED KANNER LONDON & MILLEN LLC

Joseph C. Kohn
KOHN SWIFT & GRAF PC

Gregory P. Hansel
PRETI FLAHERTY BELIVEAU & PACHIOS LLP

Eugene A. Spector
SPECTOR ROSEMAN & KODROFF PC

Defense Counsel

Gabriel A. Fuentes
Daniel T. Fenske
JENNER & BLOCK LLP
Counsel for Mistubishi Electric

Craig P. Seebald
Alden L. Atkins
Lindsey R. Vaala
Ryan B. Will
VINSON & ELKINS LLP
Counsel for HIAMS

Steven F. Cherry
WILMER CUTLER PICKERING HALE AND DORR LLP
Counsel for the DENSO Defendants

Steven M. Zarowny
General Counsel
DENSO INTERNATIONAL AMERICA INC.
Counsel for Defendant DENSO International America Inc.

George A. Nicoud III
Rachel S. Brass
Eli M Lazarus
GIBSON DUNN & CRUTCHER LLP
Counsel for Defendants Mitsuba Corp. and American Mitsuba Corp.

Barry A. Pupkin
Jeremy W. Dutra
SQUIRE PATTON BOGGS(US) LLP
Counsel for Defendants Aisan Industry Co. Ltd., Franklin Precision Industry Inc., Hyundam Industrial Co. Ltd., and Aisan Corp. of America

Richard Brosnick
AKERMAN LLP
Counsel for Defendants Mikuni Corp. and Mikuni American Corp.

Anita F. Stork
COVINGTON & BURLING LLP

Ross A. Demain
COVINGTON & BURLING LLP
Counsel for Defendants Hitachi Astemo Ltd. (f/k/a Keihin Corp.) and Hitachi Astemo Indiana Inc. (f/k/a Keihin North America Inc.)

Eileen M. Cole
Christopher M. Curran
WHITE & CASE LLP
Counsel for Defendant Maruyasu Industries Co. Ltd.