Toyota ordered to give back the cash it fined dealers

[dArKeR]

By Roy Cokayne

Pretoria - Toyota South Africa fined eight of its vehicle dealers R25 000 each for failing to adhere to the car maker's policy of prescribed maximum discounts on its list prices to dealers.

However, the cash was subsequently refunded following an investigation launched by the competition commission.

The inquiry focused on Toyota SA's implementation and enforcement of a maximum discount policy, which the commission claimed amounted to illegal support of a minimum resale price. Such a policy was in contravention of the Competition Act.

However, Toyota SA and the commission found accord with a consent order agreement earlier this month.

Toyota SA agreed to pay an administrative penalty of R12 million and to discontinue the minimum resale pricing practice.

http://www.businessreport.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=561&fArticleId=2092354

Price fixing is illegal in the USA too!