BMW and the Volkswagen Group have been fined €875.2 million (£751.4m) by the European Commission after forming a cartel with Mercedes-Benz owner Daimler to limit the potential of emissions reducing technology.

The German car makers were found to have conducted regular technical talks over a period of five years in which they colluded on their application of Nitrogen Dioxide-cutting AdBlue systems in their vehicles.

The Commission said they “colluded to avoid competition on cleaning better than what is required by law despite the relevant technology being available”.

It added: “More specifically, Daimler, BMW and Volkswagen Group reached an agreement on AdBlue tank sizes and ranges and a common understanding on the average estimated AdBlue-consumption.

“They also exchanged commercially sensitive information on these elements.