Georgia will receive $1.58 million from a multi-state settlement with automakers Hyundai and Kia to resolve claims that the companies misrepresented the mileage and fuel economy ratings for some recent model years, Attorney General Sam Olens’ office said Thursday.
The $41.2 million settlement between the 33 states and the District of Columbia and the Hyundai Motor Company, Hyundai Motor America, Kia Motors Corporation and Kia Motors America, concludes a multi-state investigation into the companies’ business practices relating to fuel economy estimate adjustments at a time when gasoline prices in the United States were especially high, Olens’ office said.
“Consumers rely on the manufacturer to provide correct information when purchasing an automobile,” said Attorney General Sam Olens. “This settlement will help to ensure that consumers receive accurate information in the future.”
Hyundai and Kia announced in late 2012 that they were adjusting and restating the fuel economy ratings for certain 2011, 2012 and 2013 vehicles after it was revealed that the companies had overstated the fuel efficiency of certain vehicles.
The states alleged Hyundai and Kia incorporated the inflated data into the mileage ratings on window stickers of hundreds of thousands of cars. The states also alleged the companies sought to capitalize on the erroneous mileage estimates by placing them prominently in a variety of advertisements and other promotional campaigns, Olens’ office said.
The companies’ actions could have affected consumer decisions during a time of high gas prices, the states alleged. Olens alleged the actions violated the Georgia Fair Business Practices Act.
Other states in the group — led by Connecticut, Iowa and Illinois — include Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin and the District of Columbia.
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