Who was sanctioned, and for what?

The engine manufacturer programmed the engine software so that emission controls were reduced or switched off during normal driving (around 630,000 Ram 2500/3500 vehicles from model years 2013–2019) and failed to disclose auxiliary emission control devices in a further approximately 330,000 vehicles. Civil penalty of 1.675 billion USD – the highest ever under the Clean Air Act – plus recall and mitigation measures, totalling around 2 billion USD.

Authority / court

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency / U.S. Department of Justice (U.S. District Court, District of Columbia)

Area of law

Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits

Legal basis

Clean Air Act

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Automotive

Employees

10,000 or more

Original amount 1,675,000,000 USD, converted at the ECB reference rate of 10 Jan 2024.

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

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Maxxis guaranteed wholesalers fixed margins per tyre sold of the Maxxis and CST brands, monitored prices in particular on the Tyre24 platform and intervened when prices were too low. Germany's Federal Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt) imposed fines totalling 11.9 million EUR on three companies and one responsible individual.

Authority / court

Bundeskartellamt

Area of law

Competition law · Cartels and collusion

Legal basis

§ 1 GWB (vertikale Preisbindung)

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Automotive

Mitigating circumstances

Settlement with Maxxis and Reifen Müller

Liability of senior managers

Fine imposed on one responsible natural person (not named)

Published

21 Jul 2026

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

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Between September 2020 and September 2024, Bosch exported MEMS sensors and vehicle software worth around 72.4 million USD from outside the US without a licence to Huawei and affiliated companies on the Entity List (Foreign Direct Product Rule). Bosch voluntarily disclosed the violations; around 3.6 million USD of the penalty imposed by the US Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is credited against a disgorgement agreed with the DOJ.

Authority / court

U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS)

Area of law

Sanctions and export control · Export control and dual-use goods

Legal basis

Export Administration Regulations (Foreign Direct Product Rule, Entity List)

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

final

Sector

Automotive

Employees

10,000 or more

Mitigating circumstances

Voluntary self-disclosure and cooperation

Published

17 Jun 2026

Original amount 36,184,680 USD, converted at the ECB reference rate of 16 Jun 2026.

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

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Around 10,000 heavy-duty Volvo diesel engines from model years 2010 to 2016 used auxiliary emission control devices (AECDs) that were not disclosed during certification and emitted more NOx than permitted. The settlement with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) comprises 17.5 million USD in penalties and costs, 71 million USD for mitigation measures and 108 million USD for emission reduction projects in California.

Authority / court

California Air Resources Board (CARB)

Area of law

Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits

Legal basis

Kalifornische Emissions- und Zertifizierungsvorschriften für schwere Nutzfahrzeugmotoren

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

final

Sector

Automotive

Employees

10,000 or more

Mitigating circumstances

Cooperation during the investigation; recall and extended warranty for engines from model years 2014 to 2016.

Published

18 May 2026

Original amount 196,500,000 USD, converted at the ECB reference rate of 18 May 2026.

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

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In an attack on an application operated by a processor, data of a very large number of persons (including personal identification numbers, driving licence and identity card numbers, vehicle identification numbers) were stolen and published. The Romanian data protection authority (ANSPDCP) criticised the lack of security measures and effectiveness testing as well as the selection of a service provider without sufficient guarantees and imposed 637,262.50 lei (125,000 EUR).

Authority / court

Autoritatea Națională de Supraveghere a Prelucrării Datelor cu Caracter Personal (ANSPDCP)

Area of law

Data protection · Data processors

Legal basis

Art. 32 Abs. 1 lit. b und d, Abs. 2 i. V. m. Art. 28 Abs. 1 DSGVO

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Automotive

Published

25 Mar 2026

Original amount 637,262.5 RON, converted at the ECB reference rate of 25 Mar 2026.

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

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The automotive supplier's business figures for the first quarter of 2024 deviated significantly from market expectations; this inside information was not disclosed without delay by means of an ad hoc announcement. BaFin imposed a fine.

Authority / court

Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (BaFin)

Area of law

Capital markets and financial supervision · Disclosure and reporting obligations

Legal basis

Art. 17 Abs. 1 UAbs. 1 MAR

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

final

Sector

Automotive

Published

26 Mar 2026

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

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A car dealer from the Bavarian Lower Main region specialising in armoured and luxury vehicles brought 111 vehicles worth almost 20 million EUR to Russia, and around 400 further vehicles were planned. The white-collar crime chamber of the Würzburg Regional Court (Landgericht Würzburg) sentenced the owner to six years' imprisonment and the former authorised signatory (Prokuristin) to two years suspended, and ordered the confiscation of around 20 million EUR; the judgment is not final.

Authority / court

Landgericht Würzburg (Wirtschaftsstrafkammer); Ermittlungen Zollfahndungsamt Essen und Staatsanwaltschaft Würzburg

Area of law

Sanctions and export control · Breaches of sanctions and embargoes

Legal basis

Außenwirtschaftsgesetz i. V. m. Russland-Embargoverordnung (EU) Nr. 833/2014 (gewerbsmäßig)

Action

Custodial sentence

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Automotive

Culpability

intentional

Liability of senior managers

Owner (Andreas M.) six years' imprisonment; former authorised signatory (Inna W.) two years suspended.

Published

2 Mar 2026

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

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In two tenders by ‘Vilniaus viešasis transportas’ for vehicle spare parts (May–October 2025), the dealers coordinated bids and prices, wrote the bids for each other and sent them from the same computer. The contracting entity reported the suspicion. Following acknowledgement (minus 15%), fines of 17,950 EUR (Manado) and 23,130 EUR (Parts ready). Source: archived copy of the press release.

Authority / court

Konkurencijos taryba (Litauischer Wettbewerbsrat)

Area of law

Competition law · Cartels and collusion

Legal basis

Konkurencijos įstatymas (verbotene Vereinbarungen)

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Automotive

Mitigating circumstances

Acknowledgement of the infringement (15% reduction)

Published

12 Feb 2026

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

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An Excel file containing data from medical certificates of current and former employees was repeatedly circulated within the company; the company reported the incident itself. The Romanian data protection authority (ANSPDCP) imposed 25,455 lei (5,000 EUR) for breach of data minimisation and accountability and 50,911 lei (10,000 EUR) for insufficient security measures and ordered a monitoring and control procedure. Date = publication of the press release; according to the authority, the investigation was concluded in the previous month.

Authority / court

Autoritatea Națională de Supraveghere a Prelucrării Datelor cu Caracter Personal (ANSPDCP)

Area of law

Data protection · Employee data

Legal basis

Art. 5 Abs. 1 lit. c und Abs. 2, Art. 32 Abs. 1 lit. b und Abs. 2 DSGVO

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Automotive

Published

19 Jan 2026

Original amount 76,366 RON, converted at the ECB reference rate of 19 Jan 2026.

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a Withhold Release Order: car tyres from Linglong International Europe D.O.O. Zrenjanin (Serbia) are being detained at all US ports of entry because there are indications of forced labour (ILO indicators including deception, debt bondage, isolation, retention of identity documents and withholding of wages (nine indicators in total)).

Authority / court

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Area of law

Supply chain and human rights · Forced and child labour

Legal basis

19 U.S.C. § 1307 (Tariff Act of 1930, Section 307)

Action

Order

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Automotive

Published

18 Dec 2025

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

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The Munich II Regional Court (Landgericht München II) had sentenced a head of department in diesel engine development and a former head of powertrain development for fraud in 94,924 cases to one year and nine months and two years respectively, and the former CEO of A AG for fraud in 17,177 cases to one year and nine months, in each case suspended on probation. They were responsible for unlawful defeat devices or failed to intervene despite having knowledge of them; the loss to buyers amounted to around 2.32 billion EUR. Germany's Federal Court of Justice (Bundesgerichtshof, BGH) dismissed the appeals on points of law (1 StR 270/24).

Authority / court

Bundesgerichtshof (1. Strafsenat); Vorinstanz Landgericht München II (Urteil vom 27.06.2023)

Area of law

Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits

Legal basis

§ 263 StGB (Betrug); unzulässige Abschalteinrichtungen nach US- und EU-Zulassungsrecht

Action

Custodial sentence

Status of proceedings

final

Sector

Automotive

Culpability

intentional

Mitigating circumstances

Prison sentences suspended on probation in each case.

Liability of senior managers

Those convicted were a head of department (P.), a former head of powertrain development and later board member (H.), and the former CEO of A AG (S.), who took no action despite the serious possibility of further defeat devices.

Published

19 Dec 2025

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

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From 2005 to 2017, the manufacturers of automotive starter batteries agreed, with the help of the association EUROBAT, to publish jointly calculated lead surcharges (EUROBAT premiums) and to use them in price negotiations with carmakers. Fines: Exide 30 million EUR, Rombat 20.218 million EUR, Elettra 15.594 million EUR, FET 6.11 million EUR, EUROBAT 125,000 EUR; Clarios escaped a fine as leniency applicant.

Authority / court

Europäische Kommission

Area of law

Competition law · Cartels and collusion

Legal basis

Art. 101 AEUV, Art. 53 EWR-Abkommen

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Automotive

Mitigating circumstances

Leniency programme (Clarios 100 %, FET 50 %, Rombat 30 %); reduction for inability to pay for one company; payment in instalments

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

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In 2014–2015, chassis and body manufacturers allocated contracts and submitted cover bids in tenders for refuse collection and sewer cleaning vehicles. The Gazdasági Versenyhivatal (Hungarian Competition Authority, GVH) imposed cartel fines of 1,278.4 million HUF (of which 972.9 million on Volvo Hungária) and, in addition, a record procedural fine of 270 million HUF on Volvo Hungária for obstructing access to data secured during the inspection.

Authority / court

Gazdasági Versenyhivatal (GVH)

Area of law

Competition law · Cartels and collusion

Legal basis

Ungarisches Wettbewerbsgesetz, Art. 101 AEUV (Submissionsabsprachen, Verfahrensbuße; VJ/30/2018)

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Automotive

Culpability

intentional

Mitigating circumstances

Admissions and leniency applications by most participants; MUT paid 116 million HUF in compensation to contracting authorities.

Published

5 Dec 2025

Original amount 1,548,400,000 HUF, converted at the ECB reference rate of 5 Dec 2025.

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

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Valvoline wanted to acquire around 200 Oil Changers shops from Greenbriar for 625 million USD. Because the two competed directly in 25 local markets, under the proposed consent order the acquisition may only be completed if 45 shops are sold to Main Street Auto.

Authority / court

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

Area of law

Competition law · Merger control

Legal basis

Section 7 Clayton Act; Section 5 FTC Act (Consent Order)

Action

Order

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Automotive

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

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The person responsible for an independent car dealership sold 71 luxury vehicles with a value of goods of around 5 million EUR to Russia, feigning lawful exports to third countries. Following investigations by the Frankfurt am Main public prosecutor's office and the Essen customs investigation office, the Marburg Regional Court (Landgericht Marburg) imposed five years' imprisonment and ordered the confiscation of around 5 million EUR; the judgment is not final.

Authority / court

Landgericht Marburg; Ermittlungen Staatsanwaltschaft Frankfurt am Main und Zollfahndungsamt Essen

Area of law

Sanctions and export control · Breaches of sanctions and embargoes

Legal basis

Außenwirtschaftsgesetz i. V. m. Verordnung (EU) Nr. 833/2014 (Luxusgüterverbot)

Action

Custodial sentence

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Automotive

Culpability

intentional

Liability of senior managers

The person responsible for the car dealership was personally sentenced to five years' imprisonment.

Published

11 Jul 2025

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

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The Commission imposed fines of around 458 million EUR on 15 carmakers and the association ACEA. From 2002 to 2017, they had agreed not to pay dismantlers for recycling end-of-life vehicles and not to advertise recycling rates or recycled content; ACEA organised the meetings. Mercedes-Benz received full immunity as leniency applicant, and all parties reached a settlement (10 % reduction).

Authority / court

Europäische Kommission

Area of law

Competition law · Cartels and collusion

Legal basis

Art. 101 AEUV, Art. 53 EWR-Abkommen

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Automotive

Employees

10,000 or more

Mitigating circumstances

Leniency programme (Mercedes-Benz 100 %, Stellantis/Opel 50 %, Mitsubishi 30 %, Ford 20 %), 10 % settlement reduction, lesser involvement of Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Suzuki

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

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Between 2010 and 2019, the Toyota subsidiary submitted false certification applications, altered emissions data and fabricated test results; more than 105,000 non-compliant diesel engines were imported into the USA. The court imposed a fine of 521.76 million USD and forfeiture of 1.087 billion USD, plus five years of probation with an import ban on Hino diesel engines.

Authority / court

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan (Ermittlungen: EPA Criminal Investigation Division, FBI)

Area of law

Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits

Legal basis

Clean Air Act; Verschwörung zum Betrug der Vereinigten Staaten und Schmuggel (Schuldbekenntnis)

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Automotive

Employees

10,000 or more

Culpability

intentional

Published

19 Mar 2025

Original amount 1,608,760,000 USD, converted at the ECB reference rate of 19 Mar 2025.

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

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Honda required excessive information for opt-out requests, used a cookie tool without equivalent choices, made it harder to appoint authorised agents and passed data on to ad-tech firms without the required contracts. The order of the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) requires, among other things, a simplified procedure and training for employees.

Authority / court

California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA)

Area of law

Data protection · Data subject rights and transparency

Legal basis

California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

final

Sector

Automotive

Employees

10,000 or more

Published

12 Mar 2025

Original amount 632,500 USD, converted at the ECB reference rate of 7 Mar 2025.

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

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From 2010 to 2019, the Toyota subsidiary altered test data, carried out tests improperly or fabricated them entirely for more than 50 engine families (around 105,000 on-road and 5,700 off-road diesel engines). The resolution with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Justice comprises a civil penalty of 525 million USD and a criminal fine of 521.76 million USD (together 1.047 billion USD), five years of probation and an import ban on diesel engines; including the recall and mitigation measures, the overall resolution totals more than 1.6 billion USD.

Authority / court

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency / U.S. Department of Justice

Area of law

Environment and sustainability · Emissions and permits

Legal basis

Clean Air Act

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

unknown

Sector

Automotive

Culpability

intentional

Original amount 1,046,760,000 USD, converted at the ECB reference rate of 15 Jan 2025.

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

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On the websites for the XEV YOYO and Microlino electric vehicles, the companies advertised with ‘100 % sustainable’, ‘100 % Green’, ‘zero emissions’ and ‘zero environmental impact’ without taking into account life-cycle phases or the emissions from electricity generation. Following an intervention by Italy's competition and consumer protection authority (Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato, AGCM) (moral suasion, PS12794/PS12819), the claims were removed.

Authority / court

Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (AGCM)

Area of law

Environment and sustainability · Misleading environmental and sustainability claims

Legal basis

Codice del Consumo (unlautere Geschäftspraktiken), Verfahren PS12794 und PS12819

Action

Other

Status of proceedings

final

Sector

Automotive

Mitigating circumstances

Voluntary removal of the claims following the authority's intervention.

Published

9 Oct 2024

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

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