Whoops. On November 3, 2014, the Department of Justice and the EPA levied fines and penalties towards Hyundai and Kia that totaled to over $300 million dollars for overstating fuel mileage claims on over 1.2 million cars sold in the United States. According to the EPA, the actual fuel mileage was anywhere from one to six miles per gallon off of the claimed amount, which the Hyundai Group, the parent company of both Hyundai and Kia, had admitted to in 2012. An investigation by the EPA was launched after a flurry of consumer complaints were filed in regards to lower than expected fuel mileage numbers. At that time, Hyundai Group claimed that the mileage numbers were different due to “procedural errors” and that they were not intentionally trying to mislead customers, a sentiment echoed after the announcement of the penalties.
In a released statement, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor America, David L. Zuchowski, said, “Hyundai has acted transparently, reimbursed affected customers and fully cooperated with the E.P.A. throughout the course of its investigation. We are pleased to put this behind us, and gratified that even with our adjusted fuel economy ratings, Hyundai continues to lead the automotive industry in fuel efficiency and environmental performance.”
The Hyundai Group will have to pay $100 million in fines, and will forfeit $200 million in greenhouse gas credits that were earned using the original fuel mileage numbers. In addition, the company must build a testing facility in the United States, eliminating the possibility of the testing errors that may or may not have occurred in the Korean testing facility where the “procedural errors” occurred.
Source: New York Times
Didn’t Honda get caught over these kinds of falsified claims recently, too? There was some huge furor over it and the CEO had to apologize publicly.
“In addition, the company must build a testing facility in the United States…”
This. I like this. Force them to bring jobs and tax dollars stateside.
‘Green house gas credits’ funny that never passed the congress, did the EPA just pull it out of its green ass while circumventing the people? The EPA has too much power, kill it.
Why couldn’t one of the huge government agencies check car models out for mileage as soon as they come out?
Oh, I forgot, we’re talking about the government. Whatever they do they do it late and get it wrong.
“Build a test facility in the US”. Easier said than done. Too bad EPA bureaucrats dont know what a PIA it is to get through permitting, impact fees, etc. to just build a house.
Maybe if the green police around the world could agree on one method to measure fuel economy we wouldn’t have procedural errors.
The buyers of these makes will pay the fine.