U.S. cities sue fire truck manufacturers over alleged price collusion

Dozens of cities, counties, and fire departments across the United States are pursuing antitrust litigation against major fire apparatus manufacturers. The lawsuits allege that companies including REV Group Inc., Oshkosh Corporation, and Rosenbauer Group conspired to suppress competition, leading to skyrocketing prices for vehicles and repair parts, as well as years-long delivery delays.

In Wisconsin, a federal court has consolidated these claims into a trio of antitrust class action lawsuits. The litigation also names the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers’ Association as a defendant. Municipalities have reported significant operational challenges due to these issues; for example, the Kansas City Fire Department reported that a third of its fire engines were unusable in mid-2023 due to a lack of available parts and vehicles.

Local governments are increasingly joining the legal action. The Chelsea City Council in Alabama recently approved joining the litigation on a contingency basis, joining other cities such as Huntsville. The council noted that the city has purchased three fire department vehicles in recent years, making it eligible to participate in the suit against the alleged collusion.