The U.S. Justice Department says Japanese automotive parts maker Sanden Corp. has agreed to plead guilty and pay a $3.2 million fine for its role in a price-fixing cartel for compressors used in air conditioning systems.
Gunma Prefecture-based Sanden allegedly conspired to rig prices for the compressors that were sold to Nissan North America Inc. from 2008 to 2009, according to the department.
Sanden is one of 33 companies to have pleaded guilty or agreed to plead guilty as part of an investigation into price-fixing and bid-rigging in the auto parts industry, the department said.