Japão authorities began a regulatory offensive against a subsidiary linked to the Nissan dealership network in the country. Comissão of Comércio Justo of
The investigation focuses on the practice of forcing bodywork and painting workshops to carry out logistical services without any remuneration. Segundo the initial surveys, the company coerced these smaller companies to take over the transport of vehicles and parts, creating an economic imbalance in the contractual relationship.
Scheme details and losses
The mechanism used by the dealer consisted of delegating the collection and delivery of cars to their own maintenance service providers. Instead of hiring specialized transport companies or using an internal fleet, the company required subcontractors to carry out the entire operation of moving the damaged fleet.
This imposition resulted in high operating costs that were not foreseen in the original contracts. Entre expenses unduly absorbed by partner workshops include:
– Pagamento full fuel and toll fees during journeys;
– Alocação of working hours of technical employees for driver functions;
– Desgaste of the workshops’ own fleet to meet the dealership’s demand.
Preliminary data indicates that more than 2,000 vehicles have been transported under these conditions since mid-2024. The economic dependence of suppliers on the automotive giant prevented them from refusing the tasks, at the risk of losing their accreditation and source of revenue.
Developments and corrective measures
In light of the evidence, the regulatory body must issue a formal order to immediately stop these abusive practices. The expectation is that the JFTC will determine the retroactive calculation of all services provided free of charge and demand full reimbursement from affected suppliers, aiming to repair the financial damage caused.
The dealership’s management acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations and signaled cooperation with ongoing investigations. The company committed to reviewing its internal third-party management processes to ensure compliance with Japanese legislation, which expressly prohibits the abuse of bargaining power against subcontractors.
The episode takes place in a scenario of global restructuring of the brand, where the pressure to reduce costs at headquarters ends up reverberating throughout the production chain. The case serves as a warning to the sector about the legal limits in the search for efficiency, reinforcing the need to protect the most fragile links in the automotive system.