WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) recently reported that the vice chairman and another high-ranking officer at a Taiwan aftermarket auto lights manufacturer pleaded guilty to participating in an international effort to fix prices for aftermarket auto lights.

According to the DOJ, Homy Hong-Ming Hsu, vice chairman of Eagle Eyes Traffic Industrial Co. Ltd., conspired with others to eliminate competition by fixing the prices of aftermarket auto lights. He is said to have been partaking in this practice from November 2001 until September 2008. The DOJ noted that Hsu and co-conspirators participated in a conspiracy in which participants met and agreed to charge prices of aftermarket auto lights according to jointly determined formulas. The participants in the conspiracy issued price announcements to customers in accordance with the jointly determined price structure, and collected and exchanged information on prices for the purpose of monitoring and enforcing adherence to the conspiracy. Hsu and co-conspirators held meetings in the United States and Taiwan.

According to Acting Assistant Attorney General Joseph Wayland of DOJ’s Antitrust Division:

“The Antitrust Division will continue to crack international price fixing cartels that harm American businesses and consumers … Four corporations and five executives have been charged as a result of the Antitrust Division’s investigation into price fixing in the aftermarket auto lights industry.”

The DOJ is encouraging anyone with information concerning illegal or anticompetitive conduct in the aftermarket auto lights industry to call the Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Field Office at (415) 436-6660.

The Automotive Service Association is the largest not-for-profit trade association of its kind dedicated to and governed by independent automotive service and repair professionals. ASA serves an international membership base that includes numerous affiliate, state and chapter groups from both the mechanical and collision repair segments of the automotive service industry.

ASA advances professionalism and excellence in the automotive repair industry through education, representation and member services. For additional information about ASA, including past news releases, go to www.ASAshop.org, or visit ASA’s legislative website at www.TakingTheHill.com.