Australia’s Competition and Consumer Commission Takes Exxon Mobil’s Local Brand to Court Over Misleading Fuel Claims
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has launched legal action against Exxon Mobil’s local brand, Mobil, for misleading customers about fuel sold at six of its branded petrol stations in Queensland.
The ACCC alleges that Mobil falsely represented that its “Mobil Synergy” brand contained certain additives, when in fact it did not. The commission also claims that the company incorrectly stated that the fuel sold at these specific sites had a different quality or composition compared to other Mobil-branded stations, and contained certain extra benefits.
“This conduct is unacceptable and can cause significant harm to consumers,” said ACCC Commissioner Liza Carver. “Consumers have no way of verifying the claims made about the fuel they put into their tank and rely on the accuracy of claims made by the fuel supplier.”
Mobil has accepted the ACCC proceedings and has cooperated fully with the regulator during the investigation. The company has also taken steps to ensure that it does not engage in similar conduct in the future.
In a statement, a Mobil spokesperson attributed the alleged misconduct to operational difficulties, including unanticipated delays associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and related supply issues, as well as the remote location of the sites involved.