Edwin Coe LLP, a law firm representing commercial vehicle owners, has filed a class action seeking damages from a group of commercial vehicle manufacturers on behalf of businesses that were direct and indirect truck buyers who were victims of a price fixing cartel.

In July 2016 the cartel members were fined nearly €3 billion by the European Union. The Road Haulage Association has launched a compensation claim on behalf of its members.

The law firm says it is acting on behalf of companies that were provided by hauliers as well as those who purchased the vehicles themselves. Edwin Coe is encouraging businesses in the retail, construction, farming, waste-management and outsourcing sectors to sign up to the action.

A number of well-known high street names that include4 a supermarket retailer and a number of regional brewers have already signs up to the class action lawsuit. They seek damages (plus interest) for medium or heavy goods vehicles purchased during the so-called infringement period of 14 years.

Zahira Hussain of Edwin Coe said: “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.”

The class action suit comes as a result of a European Commission ruling in 2016 against five truck manufacturers, MAN, Volvo/Renault, Daimler/Mercedes, Iveco and DAF. The EC found that the firms had operated a price fixing cartel that went back to 1997. Scania has since been found to have been a member too. Between them they hold more than 80% of the commercial vehicle market.