In connection with an international anti-trust investigation, FBI agents searched the US headquarters of three Japan-based automotive suppliers that have ties to Toyota Motor Corp.
Special agent Sandra Burchtold said that last Tuesday, the searches were conducted on Denso Corp. in Southfield, Yazaki North America Inc. in Canton, and Tokai Rika Group North America in Plymouth. Gina Talamona, deputy director of public affairs for the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., said that the anti-trust division is conducting a probe over alleged anti-competitive cartel conduct of automotive electronic components suppliers.
Talamona added that this probe is being done in coordination with the European Commission and other foreign competition authorities. Talamona declined to give more details.
The Wall Street Journal had a talk with Toyota spokeswoman Cindy Knight, who said that the company is trying to determine why the FBI is probing the three suppliers.
She said that the Toyota has “limited information about the scope of the investigation.” She clarified that the authorities have not contacted Toyota.
Meanwhile, Bridgette LaRose-Gollinger, senior public relations specialist at Denso, announced that the search was related to alleged violations of US anti-trust law and that Denso is fully cooperating with the investigation.
