NYK and MOL agree £54m UK settlement in car-shipping cartel case

NYK and MOL have agreed to pay £54m to settle a UK opt-out collective action over an alleged long-running car-shipping cartel, according to statements by the class representative, his law firm Scott+Scott and litigation funder Woodsford.

The settlement, which requires approval by the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT), would lift total recoveries in the Car Delivery Charges case to £92.75m and conclude all claims against the five shipping groups originally sued. 

A hearing is scheduled for 15–16 January 2026. The claim argues that deep-sea car carriers inflated the cost of shipping new vehicles into the UK and Europe, with higher delivery charges passed on in prices paid by consumers and fleets. 

Around 17 million new cars and vans sold or leased in the UK between October 2006 and September 2015 were affected, covering brands including Ford, Vauxhall, Volkswagen, Peugeot, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Toyota, Citroën and Renault. 

The UK claim was originally valued at more than £150m, with an estimated overcharge of up to £60 per vehicle in certain scenarios. The proposed NYK/MOL agreement follows a trial earlier this year focused solely on the two companies, after three other carriers had already settled. 

Earlier recoveries included £1.5m from CSAV and a combined £37.25m from “K” Line and WWL/EUKOR, bringing approved settlements with those groups to £38.75m. Tribunal materials show “K” Line’s settlement at £12.75m and WWL/EUKOR’s at £24.5m. The UK action builds on a 2018 European Commission decision that found CSAV, “K” Line, MOL, NYK and WWL-EUKOR operated a cartel in the deep-sea transport of new vehicles between October 2006 and September 2012.

Four carriers were fined €395m, while MOL avoided a fine under the EU leniency programme. Regulators in several jurisdictions imposed additional penalties, taking sanctions outside the EU above $755m, according to UK claim materials.

A separate distribution plan will determine how the £92.75m is allocated once the CAT approves all settlements. Under the opt-out regime, eligible UK purchasers and lessees of new vehicles in the 2006–2015 window are included unless they previously opted out all settlements. Under the opt-out regime, eligible UK purchasers and lessees of new vehicles in the 2006–2015 window are included unless they previously opted out 

Source: Maasmond Maritime