Following the guilty plea of a former G.S. Electech executive, nine Japanese-based automobile parts manufacturers and two of their executives pled guilty and agreed to pay fines totaling more than $740 million for their roles in price-fixing conspiracies that increased the cost of cars sold in the United States and elsewhere. The illegal activities affected more than $5 billion in automobile parts sold to U.S. car manufacturers. It also affected more than 25 million cars purchased by American consumers. Price-fixed parts included air-conditioning systems, windshield wipers, radiators, alternators, power window motors, and power steering assemblies. This investigation is the largest criminal investigation the DOJ antitrust division has ever pursued in terms of scope and affected commerce, and so far 20 companies and 21 executives have been charged, with the indicted companies agreeing to plead guilty and to pay more than $1.6 billion in criminal fines.