Tuesday, 17 June 2014 00:08
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Reuters: Ford Motor Co said it was lowering the fuel economy ratings on six of its models, including a number of hybrids, and would reimburse owners for the difference.
The No. 2 US automaker said the ratings would be cut on its 2013 and 2014 model year hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles as well as most 2014 Fiesta cars. It was the second time Ford cut fuel ratings for the C-Max hybrid in under a year.
“We apologise to our customers and will provide goodwill payments to affected owners,” Ford CEO Alan Mulally said in a statement. “We also are taking steps to improve our processes and prevent issues like this from happening again.”
The restatement of mileage estimates is nothing new in the auto industry.
Last August, Ford – which has touted its superior fuel efficiency in the past – cut the ratings for the C-Max hybrid by up to seven miles per gallon following complaints from consumers and experts that the model’s actual mileage fell short of claims.
In 2012, an investigation by the US Environmental Protection Agency showed that both Hyundai Motor Co and its affiliate Kia Motors Corp overstated fuel economy by at least a mile per gallon. The South Korean carmakers last December agreed to pay $ 395 million to settle lawsuits related to the matter.
In the latest case, Ford said it identified an error through internal testing and notified the US environmental regulator. No adjustments on other vehicles are planned after review of the entire lineup, the company said.
The EPA said it conducted independent tests to confirm Ford’s results and ordered the company to correct fuel economy labels on the cars within 15 days.
