Knaus Tabbert Faces Millions in Fines
The mobile home manufacturer Knaus Tabbert saw a huge increase in business during the pandemic. Now,the company must pay a hefty fine.Here’s why.
Jandelsbrunn/Stuttgart – Many people across Europe are familiar with Knaus Tabbert’s motorhomes. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lower Bavarian caravan manufacturer experienced a important boom in sales as people sought safer travel options. However, the company is now facing a multi-million euro fine.
The German Federal Cartel Office (bundeskartellamt) has imposed a fine of €2.15 million on Knaus Tabbert for illegally exchanging information with a competitor, Hymer. The inquiry revealed that managers from both companies discussed pricing and capacity planning, wich is a violation of antitrust law.
According to the Cartel Office, the companies shared information about their future pricing strategies and production volumes. This allowed them to coordinate their actions in the market, limiting competition. The illegal agreements took place between 2017 and 2020.
“The exchange of information between Knaus Tabbert and Hymer restricted competition in the motorhome market,” said Andreas Mundt, President of the Federal Cartel Office. “This is detrimental to customers as it can lead to higher prices.”
Knaus Tabbert has not yet commented on the fine, but it has the right to appeal the decision. Hymer was not fined as they were the first to come forward with the information and cooperate with the investigation.
This case highlights the importance of fair competition and the consequences of anti-competitive behavior. The Federal Cartel Office continues to monitor the market to ensure a level playing field for all companies.