German automakers are under intense scrutiny after a report in Der Spiegel magazine on Friday said BMW, Daimler AG and Volkswagen AG, including its Audi and Porsche brands, may have colluded for decades on technology, including the size of AdBlue tanks. European Union and German authorities are studying possible collusion among German automakers, according to a statement released Saturday.
“It will be extremely complex and difficult to assess the financial damage that these collusions have triggered,” Arndt Ellinghorst, a London-based analyst with Evercore ISI, said by e-mail. “There is also a large gray area between legal and illegal collaboration.”
Extending declines from Friday, BMW fell 2.5 percent, Volkswagen declined 3.1 percent and Daimler dropped 2.6 percent at 9:23 a.m. in Frankfurt trading.
Chase Perez
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Adam Richardson
I'm not surprised has nobody noticed that these brands dont actually compete with each other. Their flagship cars fill different niches.
This in contrast to Japan and the US where the car manufacturers are in direct competition across all models.
Even here in aus before the car manufacturers left, they were in direct competition across all models.
Tl;Dr german car manufacturers are like soviet union aircraft manufactures and their products fill different requirements. Germany is communist.
Jason Murphy
Are you yidding me? 3 series, a4, c class compete in compact segment.
5 series, a6, e class compete in midsize sedan segment.
7 series, a8 s class compete in full size sedan segment.
etc.
Chase Kelly
Want small car buy the veedub. Want sedan but the beamer Want luxury sedan buy the merc Want grunty rally sedan buy the Audi Want roadster buy the push
This is not to say that they don't produce other models for the illusion of market competition, but this is the general rule and this is what comes to peoples mind when you mention each brand. The manufacturers know this and a very and it would appear that they have an unwritten rule of not intruding on each other's image/market in any significant way. This is in steep contrast to Toyota vs Nissan, Ford vs GM etc etc.
Connor Phillips
They compete in practically the same segments. BMW has gotten more luxurious and Audi has tried to get sportier but they certainly ape into each other's market share. They sell sedans and SUVs that are within a few inches of each other in size and a few hundred in price in some cases.
Christopher Green
Most popular vw jetta 20k Most popular BMW 3 series 30k Most popular merc c class 40k
There is a world of difference between all three of these. Granted less between the bmw and the merc. But a 3 series is not a luxury car its an executive car, whereas the c class is luxury. 3 flagship vehicles 3 different price brackets 3 different markets.
Jackson Bailey
>collectivism is more pro-liberty than capitalism Just wanted to inform you that your opinion sucks and you should be ashamed of it
Robert Young
you really think the average transaction price on a 3 series is 30k?
William Bennett
>there will be more corporate tyranny in an ideology where all the regulations that harm small business are removed
Andrew Scott
>be good capitalist >talk to other car makers to find improvements in pricing for suppliers >make cars cheaper this way for the consumer
Media says this is bad. WTF?
Josiah Gonzalez
Starting price 3 series 33k USD Starting price c class 41k USD
Jaxon Hernandez
Would also remove all regulations to large businesses allowing collusion to occur.
Oliver Richardson
I'm talking about average transaction price, not MSRP.
Matthew Gutierrez
>Most popular vw jetta 20k >Most popular BMW 3 series 30k >Most popular merc c class 40k Anglo market isn't relevant for these car makers. 85 percent of their business is in continental Europe, Asia and Latin America.
Jaxson Rivera
What regulations? Most of them skirt around everything. The anti-monopoly laws for one prevent absolutely nothing. Instead of one company controlling everything we have two or sometimes 3 massive conglomerates who don't tread on each other's toes. Business has its hand in government because it pays to have laws and regulations in your favour
Where will the collusion start where it hasn't already?
Kayden Sanders
Also he is a fucking retard. BMW is cheaper because at least here in the United States it offers a stripper value model with a detuned 2 liter engine and Mercedes doesn't have such a model. Audi, BMW, and Mercedes ALL offer compact luxury cars with 2 liter turbocharged direct inject gas engines for roughly 40-50k average price with options. They ALL offer versions with 3 liter twin turbocharged v6 engines for 50-70k. They have similar dimensions and features. Aussie is just retarded.
Nathaniel Hernandez
Well, here you get an actual investigation of collusion rather than none.
Carson Nguyen
Woah an investigation by government officials they already bought off, so effective...
Oliver Jackson
If starting price is lower then average retail price is lower. How are you this daft. There is an illusion of competition. A BMW 3 series is not a luxury car.
Levi Jenkins
Because most models are sold with options and here at least the higher-tuned 240 something horsepower version sells more. Starting price has nothing to do with average transaction price.
Joshua Campbell
Expand the search to the rest of the world and the findings will be the same 3 different markets 3 different cars.
We know Germany is a socialist hell hole why is it so hard to believe that their car manufacturers are socialist companies.
Noah Edwards
they compete in the entry level luxury market. They are compact sedans with 2 liter turbocharged engines. VW Jetta does not compete in the same class. You are a fucking retard.
Michael Jackson
Are you implying people don't by the extra options on the merc?
Adam Richardson
They do but they are in the same entry level luxury category. They are designed to compete with each others. You are fucking retarded.