Swiss municipalities seek justice over EU truck cartel overcharges
St. Gallen municipalities are exploring compensation claims against an EU truck cartel that overcharged for commercial vehicles, including fire engines, between 1997 and 2011. The cartel involved major manufacturers like DAF, Daimler, Iveco, MAN, Scania, and Renault, and led to inflated prices for public authorities. The European Commission fined the companies a total of €2.9 billion.
The Association of St. Gallen Municipal Presidents (VSGP) has alerted municipalities to the issue and directed them to a specialized law firm, Truck-Cartel Compensation in Grünwald, Germany, led by Dr. Elisabeth Sermet. Around 100 vehicles, valued between CHF 350,000 and CHF 1 million, could be affected. The St. Gallen Building Insurance (GVSG) is coordinating the claims.
A motion submitted by three cantonal councilors is pushing for the canton to investigate potential damages. The St. Gallen cantonal government is reviewing claims for overpriced vehicles purchased during the cartel's active period. Each municipality must submit its own claim, with the GVSG providing necessary documentation to fire departments.
Time is running out for municipalities to file claims, as they risk expiring. The St. Gallen cantonal government is currently reviewing potential damages claims. The investigation follows the uncovering of the truck cartel by the European Commission, which imposed fines totaling €2.9 billion on the involved companies.
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