Manufacturer · EUR 0 fine

MAN trucks: why a zero fine costs you nothing

MAN was the first to report the cartel and obtained immunity from the fine. That administrative leniency does not release it from civil liability towards its customers.

EUR 0
Administrative fine, leniency immunity
EUR 1.2bn
Fine avoided by reporting the cartel
100 %
Civil liability retained
1997-2014
Eligible acquisition period

Administrative sanction and civil liability are two different things

Under European competition law, the leniency programme grants immunity from the Commission’s fine to the first cartel member that supplies evidence of the conspiracy. MAN reported the arrangement in late 2010 and thereby avoided a fine estimated at EUR 1.2 billion.

That immunity covers only the sanction paid into the EU budget. Directive 2014/104/EU states clearly that immunity from the fine does not remove the obligation to make good the loss suffered by customers. MAN remains fully liable for reimbursing the overcharge imposed on hauliers.

In other words, buyers of MAN trucks hold exactly the same rights as buyers of the other five brands. See our analysis of decision AT.39824.

MAN model

Range and use

Eligible acquisition period

TGX

Long-haul

2007 to 2014

TGS

Regional, heavy distribution and construction

2007 to 2014

TGM

Medium distribution and municipal work above 6 tonnes

2005 to 2014

TGL

Urban and regional heavy distribution

2005 to 2014

TGA

Earlier long-haul and construction range

2000 to 2007

F2000, M2000, L2000

Earlier series above 6 tonnes

1997 to 2002

MAN Financial Services and vehicles that have left the fleet

European law protects the business that bore the financial burden of the surcharge, whatever the structure of the contract. The rules are identical whatever the financing: see outright purchase or credit, leasing and hire purchase, long-term hire and trucks sold or scrapped.

How your claim is calculated

The original overcharge is only part of your claim. The decisive lever is the compounding of statutory late payment interest, accrued over twelve to twenty-eight years.

C = (Vb × α) × (1 + r)t
  • C: total claimable compensation, principal and late payment interest combined
  • Vb: gross list price or net acquisition value of the vehicle
  • α: artificial overcharge applied by the cartel, between 10 and 20 %
  • r: average statutory annual interest rate applied by the court, 3 to 5 %
  • t: number of years elapsed since the original invoice was paid

Worked example: for a MAN TGX 18.440 bought new in 2008 at EUR 100,000 net, the 15 % overcharge is EUR 15,000. With eighteen years of statutory interest at 4 % per year, the total recoverable amount reaches roughly EUR 30,300.

01

Eligibility check

Send us your invoices, lease agreements, registration documents or asset registers covering 1997 to 2014.

02

Audit and firm offer

Our lawyers and econometricians quantify your claim within four weeks.

03

Guided decision

You choose between a cash purchase of your claim within 30 days and litigation on a success-fee basis.

04

Payment released

The compensation is credited directly to your company bank account.

Frequently asked questions

No. The exemption covers only the administrative fine owed to the European Commission. In civil law MAN remains fully liable for reimbursing the overcharge borne by its customers.

Yes. The monthly rentals were calculated on an inflated purchase price, which gives the end lessee a right to reparation.

Compensation claims and claim purchases against MAN remain open before the European commercial courts until 2028-2029 depending on the country.

The other sanctioned manufacturers

All the analyses in this section, plus the Manufacturers hub for the overview.

Claim the compensation owed on your MAN fleet

Do not let MAN’s immunity from the fine deprive your business of what it is owed.

Or write directly to contact@truckcartelclaim.com