Mercedes-Benz was identified as a vertical price monopoly

Yesterday, information from the Jiangsu Provincial Price Bureau showed that the Bureau’s monopoly investigation of Mercedes-Benz cars has acquired relevant evidence. It controls the price of parts and components of the downstream aftermarket, as well as the maintenance price, and is a typical vertical price monopoly. The data shows that Mercedes-Benz C-level zero-sequence ratio of up to 1273%, equivalent to the total price of a Mercedes-Benz Car Parts can buy 12 vehicles.

Antitrust investigations targeting a number of multinational auto giants are being carried out nationwide. The Jiangsu Provincial Price Bureau is appointed by the National Development and Reform Commission and is responsible for the investigation of Mercedes-Benz auto monopoly cases. Yesterday, the person in charge of the Jiangsu Provincial Price Bureau responsible for this work introduced that, from late July, the price department launched surprise inspections on Mercedes-Benz dealers in five cities of Suzhou, Wuxi, Huai'an, Yangzhou and Danyang, and investigated the headquarters of the Shanghai Mercedes-Benz Eastern Region. , Dalian Zhongsheng Star Automobile Sales Company headquarters, has mastered the relevant evidence of Mercedes-Benz price monopoly, and the case has made important breakthroughs.

“The Mercedes-Benz case is a typical vertical price monopoly, which uses its own dominant position to control the price of parts and components of the downstream aftermarket, as well as the maintenance price.” The responsible person stated that the sales price of many imported vehicles is much higher than that of overseas. Times even ten times. In particular, the sharp increase in prices of parts and components by vehicle manufacturers is extremely abnormal.

The ratio of the sum of the prices of all parts of a car to the price of the entire vehicle forms a “zero-to-zero ratio” indicator, reflecting the cost of car maintenance. According to the China Automobile Maintenance Association in April, Mercedes-Benz C-class zero-sequence ratio as high as 1273%, which means that a Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan sold the money to buy parts, enough to buy 12 vehicles.

With the deepening of the anti-monopoly investigation, a number of car companies have joined the ranks of price cuts. Following the end of July, Jaguar Land Rover China and FAW-Volkswagen Audi announced price cuts. Mercedes-Benz and Chrysler recently responded to anti-monopoly investigations by the national anti-monopoly authorities against the domestic auto industry and announced price cuts.

In early August, Chrysler (China) Automobile Sales Co., Ltd. announced its positive response to the anti-monopoly investigation of the company by the Price Supervision, Inspection and Antimonopoly Bureau of the National Development and Reform Commission and the Price Supervision, Inspection and Anti-Monopoly Bureau of the Shanghai Municipal Development and Reform Commission. The price of 145 high-value and high-guaranteed spare parts, including exterior mirrors and starters, will be reduced by 20%. Meanwhile, the price of the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 will be lowered by 65,000 yuan.

Beijing Mercedes-Benz Automobile Sales Co., Ltd. has also announced that it will adjust the price of some repair parts from September 1. Mercedes-Benz said that the price adjustment will cover all models of the Mercedes-Benz range, including more than 10,000 accessories. Among them, the price of windshield glass was reduced by 29%, the power steering pump was reduced by 24%, and the radiator price was reduced by 16%. Mercedes-Benz said that through this adjustment, the price of some repair parts has been reduced by an average of 15%, further reducing the cost of using vehicles for customers.

Related industry associations and car companies surveyed, the national anti-monopoly department started an anti-monopoly investigation of the auto industry distribution and after-sales market in accordance with the anti-monopoly law since 2011, and domestic and foreign high- and low-end vehicle manufacturers and parts companies are Within the scope of the investigation.