Millions of U.K. motorists are poised to benefit after lawyers secured a £54 million ($71 million) settlement against the final two shipping giants facing allegations of inflated delivery charges. The agreement—struck with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK)—comes just before the Competition Appeal Tribunal was expected to publish a long-awaited trial judgment, according to Scott+Scott UK LLP, counsel for the claimants.
The deal closes a nine-week trial that began in January 2025, marking a pivotal moment in a sprawling opt-out class action that accused car shippers of orchestrating a price-fixing cartel.
The tribunal will review and potentially approve the settlement at a hearing set for Jan. 15.
17 Million Vehicles Affected in Alleged Shipping Cartel
Brought by class representative Mark McLaren, the claim covers roughly 17 million vehicles purchased across the U.K. between 2006 and 2015. Plaintiffs argued that consumers and businesses paid inflated prices due to coordinated collusion among five shipping companies responsible for transporting cars from major manufacturers.
McLaren praised the settlement, saying it demonstrates how the U.K.’s opt-out regime “delivers exactly what Parliament intended—giving consumers and businesses a realistic path to recover losses from cartel conduct that would be impossible to pursue individually.”
