Honda, Yamaha accused of price-fixing in scooter sales
JAKARTA - There are indications that two giant motorcycle manufacturers, PT Astra Honda Motor and PT Yamaha Indonesia Motor Manufacturing, have engaged in price-fixing in the scooter market in Indonesia , the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (K
KPPU head Muhammad Syarkawi Rauf stated that the anti-monopoly agency had compiled enough evidence, including documents and witness statements, showing that Yamaha and Astra had conspired to determine automatic scooter prices.
“One piece of evidence is a document indicating that the two companies exchanged emails to coordinate price adjustments,” he explained on Thursday in Jakarta.
Syarkawi claimed that a reasonable price for an automatic scooter was Rp 12.6 million (Bt33,600) as the production cost was only Rp 7.5 million to Rp 8 million per unit. However, the actual market price was more than Rp 15 million.
“Determining a selling price that is far above a reasonable price can only be done by the monopolising companies,” Syarkawi told journalists, adding that Astra and Yamaha controlled 67 per cent and 29 per cent of the automatic scooter market in the country, respectively.
The commission started on Wednesday a preliminary investigation by questioning Yamaha representatives. Further investigation will be conducted on July 26.
