BRUSSELS, Jan 30 (Reuters) - EU antitrust regulators on Tuesday raided a number of tyre makers in several EU countries on concerns that they may be coordinating prices as part of a cartel.
The European Commission, which acts as the competition enforcer in the 27-country European Union, did not name the countries nor the companies.
"The products concerned by the inspections are new replacement tyres for passenger cars, vans, trucks and buses sold in the European Economic Area," the EU watchdog said in a statement.
"The Commission is concerned that price coordination took place amongst the inspected companies, including via public communications," it said.
Companies found guilty of breaching EU antitrust rules face fines as much as 10% of their global turnover.
The EU antitrust enforcer has in recent years fined nearly a dozen cartels in the car industry, among them suppliers of automotive bearings, car seats, braking systems and even a cartel that restricted competition in emission cleaning for new diesel passenger cars. (Reporting by Foo Yun Chee)
