NEW YORK – The FBI raided the U.S. offices of three auto suppliers as part of an antitrust investigation, the agency said Wednesday.

The FBI’s Detroit office said agents raided the offices of Denso Corp, Yazaki North America and Tokai Rika. All the raids took place Tuesday evening.

Justice Department spokeswoman Gina Talamona said the department is conducting an investigation of automotive electronics suppliers. It was unclear if other companies were involved in the investigation.

”The antitrust division is investigating the possibility of anticompetitive cartel conduct,” Talamona said in a statement.

”We are coordinating with the European Commission and other foreign competition authorities.”

Denso spokeswoman Julie Kerr says the search of the company’s office — which oversees Denso’s operations in North and South America and is located in Southfield, Mich. — took place on Tuesday. She declined to offer details of the investigation, but said it is unrelated to Toyota’s recent recalls.

A source said the probe involves possible discussions among parts suppliers, not the safety of the parts themselves.

 

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