UK vehicle shipping cartel settlement to distribute compensation

The Competition Appeal Tribunal has approved a distribution plan for a compensation fund following a long-running legal case involving a vehicle shipping cartel. The settlement, totaling approximately £93 million, follows a European Commission investigation which found that five international shipping companies—MOL, K Line, NYK, WWL-EUKOR, and CSAV—coordinated commercial activities, including prices and sensitive information, regarding the intercontinental transport of vehicles between 2006 and 2012.

Of the total settlement, up to £56 million is designated for consumers and businesses, while the remaining £34 million covers costs, fees, and disbursements. The claim covers qualifying new vehicles purchased or financed in the UK between October 18, 2006, and September 6, 2015.

Individual payouts are expected to start at £25 for the first vehicle, with incremental amounts for subsequent vehicles. Eligible claimants, including UK businesses, fleet operators, and individual consumers, may receive payments via bank transfer, PayPal, Nectar points, or vouchers. The tribunal noted the importance of the distribution model to ensure substantial damages actually reach the represented persons.