Audi, BMW, Daimler and VW face fines over emissions collusion

Last year, the European Commission started an investigation into possible agreements being made between four German carmakers with regard to diesel emissions.

They could now face considerable fines from the EU, the German newspaper Handelsblatt reports. The manufacturers allegedly stuck together to slow down the development of clean diesel technology, such as selective catalytic reduction and particulate filters for petrol engines.

The fines could be as high as 10% of the annual sales of the companies. Investigation reports from German prosecutors indicate that the four OEMs secretly gathered in Munich already in 2007.