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While the House Committee on Oversight & Government Reform was busy raking Toyota’s chief executives over the coals in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Federal agents in Detroit were going all Untouchables-like at the offices of three auto parts suppliers, including one company owned in part by Toyota.<\/p>\n
Warrants were executed at the offices of Yazaki North America, Denso International and Tokai Rika.<\/p>\n
A rep for the anti-trust division of the U.S. Justice Department, said the investigation involved “the possibility of an anti-competitive cartel” by various suppliers of electronics for vehicles.<\/p>\n
And it appears as if this isn’t merely a domestic issue. “We are coordinating with the European Commission and other foreign competition authorities,” said the Justice Dept. rep.<\/p>\n
Denso confirmed the FBI visit and that it was in connection with an antitrust investigation. However, they did note that the investigation was not<\/em> related to the Toyota recall or this week’s Congressional hearings on the recall.<\/p>\n