Describing the charges as unjustified, Daimler-Benz statement said the commission's findings or "the statement of objections" does not contain any substantial evidence of violation of the rules governing competition.

The German-American automaker said that if the EU's executive body were to decide against Daimler-Chrysler, it would challenge such a decision with all the legal means at its disposal. The carmaker has been accused of breaking EU's anti-trust rules by the commission's cartel office by preventing its exclusive dealer networks in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain from selling Mercedes passenger cars to non-residents. The statement said the charges are ''basically directed'' against the legalstructures of the company's sales organisation.