For the first time in history! Audi voluntarily admits monopoly: willing to be punished

The Economic Information Daily reporter learned on the 11th that Audi admitted that its monopoly behavior was illegal and expressed its willingness to accept punishment. This is the first car company to actively admit that its monopoly behavior is illegal. Previously, other car companies have lowered their product prices in response to antitrust enforcement.

It is reported that on the 8th, Zhang Pijie, general manager of FAW-Volkswagen Automotive Co., Ltd., together with Bo Shi, general manager of FAW-Volkswagen Audi Sales Division, Ge Shuwen, executive vice general manager, and relevant regional market managers, went to the Price Supervision, Inspection and Anti-Monopoly Bureau of the National Development and Reform Commission to report on the relevant situation.

At the end of July, FAW-Volkswagen Audi announced that it would proactively reduce the price of original spare parts for domestic models. The "ratio of the sum of the parts price to the vehicle sales price" (hereinafter referred to as the "parts-to-whole ratio") also decreased accordingly. Taking the domestic Audi A 6L as an example, the "parts-to-whole ratio" of this model dropped from 411% to 291%, and the cost paid by users in use and maintenance will also be reduced accordingly.

Shortly thereafter, the National Development and Reform Commission announced that the Shanghai Development and Reform Commission's investigation into Chrysler and the Hubei Provincial Price Bureau's investigation into Audi were nearing completion. It was found that Audi had called together 4S stores in Hubei to unify the prices of spare parts and maintenance. The Anti-Monopoly Branch of the Jiangsu Provincial Price Bureau also conducted an anti-monopoly investigation into Mercedes-Benz dealers in five cities including Suzhou and Wuxi.

In this regard, Zhang Pijie said: "FAW-Volkswagen Audi has taken measures immediately to stop the illegal practices in response to the problems. FAW-Volkswagen Audi will sincerely accept the handling of this matter by relevant national departments, and further strengthen the regulation and management of regional sales and service businesses to prevent similar incidents from happening again."

Dong Yang, executive vice president and secretary general of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, said in an interview with the Economic Information Daily that automakers often have to wait until the relevant departments conduct surprise investigations before they curb their monopoly and price-raising practices. As an enterprise, on the one hand, it should take into account the interests of consumers and itself, and should not improperly pursue high profits; on the other hand, it reflects that the frequency of law enforcement by relevant departments is too low, which directly leads to the formation of this phenomenon.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.