China regulator takes aim at Lexus parts pricing policies
China questions executives from Toyota about luxury brand's parts policies as foreign players are fined for anti-competitive behaviour
China's regulator has summoned executives from Toyota Motor Corp over pricing policies and practices for spare and replacement parts at its luxury Lexus division, sources with direct knowledge of the matter said.
A rash of antitrust investigations that encompass a wide range of firms including Microsoft Corp and chipmaker Qualcomm has prompted complaints from foreign officials and the business community that foreign firms are being targeted unfairly.
According to three China-based Toyota executives, the National Development and Reform Commission this month summoned Beijing-based executives at Lexus for questioning.
Two of the executives said the commission questioned the Lexus leaders about the brand's spare and replacement parts policies, including pricing.
Toyota spokesman Takanori Yokoi declined to comment on the information provided by the sources, but said the firm would co-operate with Chinese authorities if there was a probe into anti-competitive matters.
The summoning of Lexus China executives escalates the regulator's probe into Toyota. Earlier this year, the commission made initial inquiries about the brand's car-parts policies through the China Automobile Dealers Association, Toyota executives familiar with the matter have said, adding that the association has been conducting an industry-wide survey since April.
