Justices Reject Antitrust Case Over BMW, Daimler, VW ‘Arms Race’

The US Supreme Court declined Tuesday to revive claims that BMW AG, Daimler AG, and Volkswagen AG conspired to avoid a technological “arms race,” passing on the chance to rethink how close calls are analyzed in antitrust cases.

The justices said they won’t review a ruling by the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which held that “rational, legal business behavior” more than adequately explained the choice by all three German auto giants to delay investing in electric cars.

The appeals court in October also rejected allegations that the companies acted in concert to adopt standard ...