Tokyo, September 24, 2025 —Japan’s Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) has ordered two leading vehicle equipment manufacturers to pay a combined ¥5.9 billion (approximately $39.8 million) in fines after uncovering cartel arrangements to raise prices on trailers and special-purpose vehicle products.
The antitrust watchdog said it had issued cease-and-desist and surcharge payment orders to Kyokuto Kaihatsu Kogyo Co. and its subsidiary Nippon Trex Co. under the country’s Antimonopoly Act. The penalties include ¥3.3 billion ($22.3 million) against Nippon Trex and ¥2.6 billion ($17.5 million) against Kyokuto Kaihatsu, both due by April 2026.
In the first case, Nippon Trex was found to have conspired with rival Toho Vehicle Co. to raise sales prices of various trailer types, including container, flatbed, low-floor, van, tank and dump trailers. The companies exchanged information on raw material costs and agreed on multiple rounds of coordinated price hikes beginning in early 2022, as steel and aluminum prices surged.
Separately, Kyokuto Kaihatsu was found to have colluded with ShinMaywa Industries through regular meetings of senior managers. The two agreed to raise prices on garbage truck equipment, tailgate lifters, and other specialized truck-mounted machinery, citing rising raw material costs. Agreements to increase prices were reached in early 2022 and again in early 2023.
The JFTC concluded that both sets of agreements “substantially restricted competition” and harmed public interest by inflating costs in sectors vital to logistics and municipal services.
In addition to the fines, the companies were ordered to implement strict compliance measures. These include confirming termination of the collusive agreements, pledging to set prices independently, prohibiting further exchange of sensitive pricing information, notifying customers and employees, and introducing internal compliance programs with regular staff training and audits.
Fines totaling ¥5.9 billion ($39.8 million) have to be paid by April 27, 2026.
The company Kyokuto acknowledged the JFTC decision and said that it benefited from a fine reduction of 30% in accordance with the application of the surcharge reduction and exemption system.
Source: https://www.jftc.go.jp/houdou/pressrelease/2025/sep/250924_yonjyo.tore-ra.html https://www.jftc.go.jp/houdou/pressrelease/2025/sep/250924_yonjyo.tokusosha.html
