EU Fines Volkswagen, BMW $1 Billion , for Withholding Emissions Technology.br EU Fines Volkswagen, BMW $1 Billion , for Withholding Emissions Technology.br EU Fines Volkswagen, BMW $1 Billion , for Withholding Emissions Technology.br The European Commission's findingsbr were announced July 8.br It was discovered that Volkswagen and br BMW had entered into an agreement with br a third automaker, Daimler.br to not compete against br each other to develop technology that br would lead to less nitrogen-oxide emissions.br The European Commission found that such an agreement violates EU antitrust laws.br The five car manufacturers br Daimler, BMW, Volkswagen, Audi and br Porsche possessed the technology to br reduce harmful emissions beyond br what was legally required under br EU emission standards. , Margrethe Vestager, EU Commission Antitrust Official, via CNN.br But they avoided to compete on using this technology's full potential to clean better than what is required br by law, Margrethe Vestager, EU Commission Antitrust Official, via CNN.br In today's world, polluting less is an important characteristic of any car. And this cartel aimed at restricting competition on this key competition parameter, Margrethe Vestager, EU Commission Antitrust Official, via CNN.br Volkswagen's response to the ruling br indicated that an appeal was possible.br The Commission is breaking new legal ground with this decision, because it is the first time it has prosecuted technical cooperation as an antitrust violation, Volkswagen, statement, via CNN.br The company also indicated it may consider the fines unreasonable as customers were "never harmed.".br BMW issued a similar statement, repudiating the ruling. .