Report: Ford’s Germany offices raided as a part of an investigation into kickbacks

The home office of Ford’s European operations in Cologne, Germany, and the whims of an unspecified number of staffers and suppliers thereof, were raided today by public prosecutors investigating allegations of kickbacks. Ford is not a target of the investigation and is cooperating with authorities.

Approximately 100 officers in Cologne raided sites linked to the company’s German unit. 30 sites in total were targeted, and there has been one arrest thus far.

The investigation has been underway since September, and the prosecutor’s office said that some Ford staff are suspected of regularly receiving ‘material advantages’ from companies in exchange for favoring certain benefactors when considering bids.

– By: Stephen Calogera

Source: AutoObserver