A legal fight lasting five years in the UK against major shipping companies involved in a car carrier cartel has ended with a proposed settlement of £54 million (about USD 72 million). This brings the total compensation for UK consumers and businesses to £92.75 million.

Mark McLaren, the class representative, announced the settlement with the last two defendants, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK), after a nine-week trial that started in January 2025. The Competition Appeal Tribunal is set to hold a hearing to approve the settlement in January.

The group action targeted shipping companies that were part of a cartel impacting the transport of 17 million new cars and vans to the UK from October 2006 to September 2015. This cartel affected vehicles from well-known European brands such as Ford, Vauxhall, Volkswagen, Peugeot, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Toyota, Citroen, and Renault sold or leased by UK consumers and businesses.

This latest settlement follows previous agreements with companies “K” Line, WWL/EUKOR, and CSAV made in January 2025 and December 2023. The initial claim was estimated at £150 million.

McLaren expressed his confidence in the case from the start, stating, "I always believed that this claim would lead to significant damages for UK consumers and businesses. I’m glad this historic settlement not only addresses wrongful anti-competitive actions but also allows class members to finally receive compensation for their losses. This result shows that the UK’s opt-out system is working as planned, providing consumers and businesses a fair way to recover money lost due to cartel activities that they couldn't pursue on their own."

Cian Mansfield, Managing Partner of Scott+Scott UK LLP, which represented McLaren, highlighted the importance of the settlement. "This is a big moment for UK consumers and businesses who paid higher shipping fees for new vehicles because of the cartel. It ends the litigation and ensures they receive significant compensation. This case is groundbreaking, as it marks the first time damages will be shared with UK businesses under the opt-out system," Mansfield said.

Charlie Morris, Chief Investment Officer of Woodsford, the litigation funder supporting the case, called the settlement a testament to the UK's collective action system. "As the Department for Business and Trade reviews the collective action regime, this case shows why such a system is crucial. It has allowed thousands of UK consumers and businesses to seek justice and receive meaningful compensation when they otherwise might not have," Morris concluded.