On 30 September 2021, the Landgericht Munich I rendered two decisions regarding the truck cartel, as follows from an article in the Süddeutsche Zeitung of the same day.[1] In both proceedings, the same two experts were instructed to investigate whether the claims for damages totalling nearly EUR 450 million were justified. The judgments are (as yet) unpublished.

In the case of DB Competition Claims GmbH, a subsidiary of the Deutsche Bahn group, against the six truck manufacturers MAN, Daimler, Iveco, Volvo/Renault, DAF and Iveco, Deutsche Bahn sought compensation of EUR 395 million for cartel damage in respect of 39,000 trucks in 18 federal states in the period 1997 to 2019. In another case, 13 German federal states are claiming EUR 49 million due to cartel damage for purchased trucks. In Munich, more than 100 civil lawsuits are said to be pending against the truck manufacturers, involving 250,000 trucks.

Deutsche Bahn responded to the news. According to a press release, the carrier hopes that the truck manufacturers will take responsibility and reach a settlement.[2]

[1]              “Lkw-Kartellprozess: Gutachter sollen Schadenshöhe klären”, Süddeutsche Zeitung, 30 September 2021.

[2]              “Lkw-Kartell: DB erwartet zügige Schadensregulierung durch Lkw-Hersteller”, press release on the website of Deutsche Bahn, 30 September 2021.