On January 30, 2024, the European Commission announced it had conducted surprise inspections at the headquarters of several tire manufacturers for vehicles, including heavy ones. Subsequently, some of these manufacturers confirmed they were subject to the inspections. The companies involved are Pirelli, Continental, Michelin, and Nokian Renkaat Oyj. The aim is to determine if these four entities have engaged in any form of price coordination within the replacement sales network, thereby excluding original equipment. This would breach Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
The investigation is in its preliminary stages and does not imply any guilt at this point. There is no legal deadline for its completion, as its duration depends on various factors, including the complexity and the level of cooperation from the involved firms. Should guilt be proven, significant penalties could be imposed, and individuals who purchased tires during the period under investigation (currently unspecified) may seek compensation.
For this purpose, Scoccini & Associates law firm recommends keeping tire purchase invoices to initiate a potential compensation lawsuit, similar to the ongoing case with the commercial vehicle cartel. In a statement, the firm noted that "since the reference period of the alleged cartel could date back many years prior to the start of the investigation, it is crucial to preserve and not discard any tire purchase invoices, even those more than ten years old, to be able to prove their purchase in court for compensation claims."
