BMW joined its German rivals Audi and Mercedes-Benz in cutting prices of auto spare parts in China, where the government has complained about overcharging and launched probes to expose what it describes as anti-competitive behaviour.

BMW, which has already cut prices for 3,300 spare parts in China by an average of 15 per cent this year, will further reduce prices for over 2,000 components by 20 per cent starting today, the company said in an e-mailed statement.

The price cut is in “active response” to the concerns expressed by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China’s price regulator, BMW said.

China is ramping up efforts to bring companies in line with its anti-monopoly law. In recent years, it has slapped foreign companies including Mead Johnson Nutrition Co and Danone SA with hefty fines. It is currently probing Microsoft Corp and carmakers including Mercedes-Benz.

The fines could be up to 10 per cent of their annual revenues in China, according to Chinese law.

BMW will expand the sales channels where independent repair shops can buy the carmaker’s original parts, addressing criticism that carmakers don’t allow components to be sold outside their authorised dealerships.

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