TROY, MI -- ZF Meritor LLC, a venture between ArvinMeritor and ZF Friedrichshafen AG, and Meritor Transmission Corp., an ArvinMeritor company, have filed an antitrust lawsuit against Eaton Corp. in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. The companies are seeking an injunction prohibiting Eaton from engaging in anticompetitive conduct in the markets for heavy-duty truck transmissions and have asked the court to award treble damages, as authorized by federal antitrust laws.

The lawsuit alleges that Eaton has engaged in anticompetitive conduct that has harmed competition in the markets for heavy-duty truck transmissions by limiting consumer choice, eliminating competitive checks on pricing and suppressing innovation. The lawsuit also alleges Eaton's conduct forced ZF Meritor, though still a legal entity today, to cease operations.

Commenting on the lawsuit, Chip McClure, chairman, chief executive officer and president of ArvinMeritor said, "It is unfortunate that we have reached this point. We have filed this lawsuit to protect competition, our shareholders and heavy-duty truck buyers. In a market without competition, innovation languishes, choice evaporates and prices increase. We are committed to protecting the interests of our loyal customers who have depended on ArvinMeritor to provide advanced technologies, exceptional products and outstanding service."