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发帖数: 11530 | 1 Hyundai, Kia Pay Fine, Lose Credits Over Mileage Claims
By Jeff Plungis Nov 3, 2014 12:02 PM CT
Hyundai Motor Co. (005380) and Kia Motors Corp. (000270), whose U.S. growth
has been aided by 40-mile-per gallon claims for its cars, will pay the
equivalent of $350 million to settle claims that it overstated fuel economy
on the window stickers consumers see at dealer showrooms.
The Seoul-based affiliates, which share engines, model platforms and a
chairman, will pay a $100 million fine, forfeit $200 million in greenhouse-
gas emission credits and will be required to spend $50 million to set up
independent tests to certify future mileage claims, according to the
settlement with the U.S. Justice Department and Environmental Protection
Agency.
The settlement amounts to the largest corporate penalty ever assessed under
the Clean Air Act and comes as automakers are crafting more creative ways to
meet increasingly strict fuel-economy rules. Ford Motor Co. had to lower
its MPG estimates for certain models twice in less than a year, and the EPA
last month required Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz unit to restate fuel economy
on two C300 4Matic models.
Hyundai’s violations were larger and more systemic representing “by far
the most egregious case,” EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy said today at a
news conference in Washington with U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.
Photographer: SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg
Hyundai Motor Co. vehicles bound for export await shipment at a port near
the company's... Read More
Hyundai and Kia used uncommon engineering protocols, inconsistent with how
other automakers test fuel economy, McCarthy said.
Hyundai Response
The companies tested cars only at optimal temperatures and used the best
results rather than averages, according to the EPA. The inflated mileage
claims affected 1.2 million vehicles sold in the U.S., McCarthy said.
The automakers had agreed in 2012 to compensate consumers by issuing debit
cards to affected customers. The Kia Soul’s corrected window sticker was
down 6 miles per gallon. Most other U.S. models were adjusted down by 1 or 2
miles per gallon.
“Hyundai has acted transparently, reimbursed affected customers and fully
cooperated with the EPA throughout the course of this investigation,” David
Zuchowski, president and chief executive officer of Hyundai Motor America,
said in a statement. “We are pleased to put this behind us.”
Hyundai’s testing procedures were consistent with government regulations
and guidance that “afforded broad latitude to vehicle manufacturers,”
according to a company statement. Still, the company said it revised test
procedures and has gotten EPA’s approval.
Hyundai and Kia agreed in December to spend as much as $395 million to
settle lawsuits related to claims that they overstated the fuel-economy
ratings of their vehicles. The company says it’s now offering a single lump
sum to customers who don’t want to return to the dealership to have their
mileage verified. |
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