Many tire factories in Turkey have been inspected!

On December 11, the Turkish Competition Authority announced that it had started an antitrust investigation into 17 tire companies operating in the field of tire production and sales. The formal investigation follows an earlier investigation in which documents and findings were deemed "serious and sufficient" to initiate the process.

The investigation is aimed at determining whether the companies violated the provisions of Article 4 of the Turkish Competition Protection Act, which covers price manipulation, control or restriction of market supply, and activities that impede the operation of competitors.

The 17 companies named by the Turkish Competition Authority are:

1.Abdulkadir Ozcan Automotive Tyre Industry Trade Inc.

2.Abdullah Ozdogan Trade Automotive Petroleum Construction Machinery Industry Import and Export Ltd

3.Aydin Tyre Sales. Service. Ltd. Co.

4.Brisa Bridgestone Sabanci Tire Industry and Trade Inc.

5.Cengizler Auto Tire Marketing Construction.Tourism Transportation Textile Real Estate Import and Export Industry Trade  Ltd Co.

6.Goodyear Tires Inc.

7.Gurlas Auto Tire Industry Trade Ltd. Co.

8.Hankook Tires Inc.

9.Karde ler Transportation Rim Mot. Vehicles Service Services Trade Ltd.

10.Michelin Tires Trading Inc.

11.Module Tire Automotive Trade Joint Stock Company

12.Automotive Tires Distribution Inc.

13.Ozcanlar Tire Industry and Trade Ltd. Co.

14.Pirelli Automobile Tires Inc.

15.Prometeon Turkey Industrial and Commercial Tires Inc.

16.Prolas Autom. Transport. Hardware Industry and Trade Ltd. Co.

17.Tatko Tire Industry and Trade Inc.

Among the 17 tire companies, in addition to local Turkish enterprises and trading companies, they also include Michelin, Bridgestone, Goodyear, Hankook Tire, Pirelli and other foreign tire giants' factories and sales companies in Turkey.

Overall, this is an important antitrust investigation into possible violations of competition law by many companies in the tire industry in Turkey, and the subsequent operations of these companies and the results of the investigation deserve continued attention.