Turkish regulator slaps €67m in fines on tyre makers for anti-competitive practices

Turkey’s Competition Board has levied administrative fines totalling TRY3.63 billion (€67 million) on tyre manufacturers and distributors for alleged anti-competitive behaviour in the automotive sector. The watchdog concluded an investigation into concerted price movements, exchange of competitively sensitive information, resale price maintenance, dealer region and customer restrictions, discriminatory practices, labour-market information exchanges and no-poaching agreements. The penalties were imposed on 16 June. Settlement fines accounted for TRY497 million, while the remainder followed full investigation findings. Brisa Bridgestone Sabancı Lastik Sanayi received the largest fine of TRY1 billion for concerted price practices, dealer restrictions and labour-market no-poach agreements. Goodyear’s Turkish unit was fined TRY672 million for alleged price coordination, dealer restrictions and labour-market information exchanges or no-poach agreements. Otomotiv Lastikleri Tevzi was penalised TRY397 million over price movements and dealer restrictions. Hankook and Pirelli’s Turkish operations were also fined for concerted price practices, dealer resale price fixing, region and customer restrictions and labour-market information exchanges or no-poach agreements. Michelin’s Turkish subsidiary was fined for concerted price practices. Companies that settled during the probe—Petlas, Tatko Lastik and Ustundag Lastik—accounted for almost TRY500 million in fines. Prometeon was fined TRY206 million for dealer resale price maintenance, region/customer restrictions and labour-market information exchanges or no-poach agreements, though the board found insufficient evidence to penalise it separately for concerted price practices. In addition to financial penalties, the companies must implement measures to prevent indirect exchange of commercially sensitive information via dealers, including distinctive watermarks on price announcements and secure one-to-one portal-based pricing systems. Contractual penalty clauses are also required to deter dealers from sharing future pricing information with rival suppliers.