The latest Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) cartel enforcement action involves the institution of civil proceedings in the Federal Court in Adelaide against Japanese company Yazaki Corporation (Yazaki) as well as its Australian subsidiary, Australian Arrow Pty Ltd (Arrow). The ACCC alleges that these manufacturers of car parts, together with a competitor, engaged in cartel conduct by coordinating their quotes for the supply of wire harnesses to a global Japanese automotive manufacturer and its related entities in Australia.

The ACCC alleges that the companies participated in a range of activities in the period between 2003 and 2009 that is cartel conduct (in breach of s 45 and s 44ZZRK (in relation to conduct from 24 July 2009) of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) (CCA)), including:

- exchanging and agreeing on prices before submitting quotes to the Japanese automotive manufacturer for the supply of wire harnesses to be used in the manufacture of its cars; and

- allocating sections of the market to which they (or their subsidiaries) would each supply wire harnesses to manufacturers.

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