Anti-monopoly regulator raids Mercedes-Benz’s Shanghai office   

传奔驰上海办事处遭发改委反垄断调查小组突袭

(ECNS) -- China's anti-monopoly regulator on Monday raided German luxury auto brand Mercedes-Benz's Shanghai office, chinanews.com reported.

The sudden visit was "aimed at Mercedes-Benz's spare-part pricing, as well as its restricted floor prices," an unnamed source said.

Nine staff from the anti-monopoly investigating team of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) entered the office area at around 10am and inspected many computers for "evidence of a possible monopoly," another insider said.

All employees were interrogated and some executives were still not allowed to leave by 9pm.

Just a day before, Mercedes-Benz said it would cut prices on more than 10,000 spare parts by an average of 15 percent, less than a month after announcing a sweeping reduction of prices for repair and maintenance services.

Nicholas Speeks, head of China sales at Mercedes-Benz, denied two weeks ago that they were under investigation, but admitted that they were having a conversation with the NDRC.

Domestic media had reported that foreign carmakers, using a dominant market position, are overcharging Chinese customers for products and spare parts.

The company has not confirmed the news yet. But an insider said to China Daily website that it is preparing a statement on the issue.