Foreign carmakers are feeling the heat in China with the news Mercedes has been found guilty of price-fixing concerning after-sales services. The anti-trust regulator could now fine Mercedes up to 10% of its 20013 Chinese revenues as a punishment under a 2008 anti-monopoly law.

In recent weeks all Germany’s carmakers in China have slashed their spare parts prices in anticipation of such a ruling and the Chinese authorities are actively investigating a number of other foreign brands.

The ruling contained an observation that a C class Mercedes in spares would cost 12 times more than one from the showroom.