The firm is urging any business that purchased, leased or outsourced trucks weighing six tonnes or more between 1997 and 2011 to join the lawsuit, which will sit in the Competition Appeal Tribunal.
It is the latest lawsuit concerning the price-fixing cartel. The claims stem from a European Commission ruling in 2016 against five truck manufacturers – MAN, Volvo/Renault, Daimler/Mercedes, IVECO and DAF – which found they operated a price-fixing cartel from 1997 to 2011. There has also since been a finding against a sixth manufacturer, Scania, by the European Commission.
Last year, the Road Haulage Association launched a funded action for members and non members (see first link below). The Edwin Coe action (second link below) includes direct purchasers and indirect purchasers (those who used logistics providers for transport services during the period in question).
It is estimated that 10 million trucks were sold across the EU during the 1997-2011 period and that each one may have been overpriced by up to £10,000 as a result of the cartel.
Edwin Coe says claims may also be brought by those who purchased trucks from other manufacturers because their prices are likely to have been affected by the cartel pricing.
Zahira Hussain (pictured), senior associate at Edwin Coe and solicitor for the claimants, says: “This cartel was an EU-wide scandal for many years and affected thousands of UK businesses, from PLCs to smaller enterprises.
“Companies that believe they were a victim and want to claim their rightful compensation need to act fast. There is still a window to join our claim process on a cost- and risk-free basis.”
Edwin Coe has secured funding from Affiniti Finance meaning it can act for clients under a ‘no-win, no-fee’ arrangement.
Other actions concerning the truck-pricing cartel include an opt-out claim led by law firm Weightmans, reported by the Law Society’s Gazette (third link below).