US ends antitrust probe of four automakers over California emissions deal, source says

• The U.S. Justice Department on Friday told four automakers it had closed an antitrust investigation into a voluntary agreement the companies reached with California.
• Ford Motor and Honda Motor confirmed the probe had been ended. A source confirmed it had also been closed in connection with BMW and Volkswagen.

People visit Ford's all-electric SUV Mustang Mach-E at the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show in Los Angeles, the United States, Nov. 22, 2019.

Xinhua via Getty Images

The U.S. Justice Department on Friday told four automakers it had closed an antitrust investigation into a voluntary agreement the companies reached with California on emissions without taking any action, a source told Reuters.

Ford Motor and Honda Motor confirmed the probe had been ended. A source confirmed it had also been closed in connection with BMW and Volkswagen.

The Trump administration in September issued a determination that California cannot set its own vehicle emission standards and had been investigating if the companies engaged in anti-competitive conduct in striking the deal.

The Justice Department did not immediately comment.