Hyundai, Kia reach gas-mileage settlement
South Korean automaker Hyundai and sister brand Kia said Thursday they had reached a $41.2 million settlement with a group of state attorneys general over their past misstatement of gas-mileage figures.
The deal marks the latest in a series of agreements Hyundai and Kia have reached to mop up the aftermath of the fuel-economy episode, one of several recent examples of automakers being caught perpetuating inaccurate performance data.
Hyundai spokesman Jim Trainor says the latest accord means the miles-per-gallon saga is “now fully remedied.” The company admitted to misstating fuel economy figures by 1 to 2 miles per gallon on about a quarter of its 2011 to 2013 model-year vehicles.
The brands previously agreed to pay a $100 million federal fine, relinquish $200 million in greenhouse gas emission credits and deliver nearly $400 million to consumers in a class-action settlement, which is still making its way through the federal appeals process.
Thursday’s agreement covers attorneys general from 33 states and the District of Columbia and includes cash to cover consumer protection claims and states’ investigative costs.
The automaker said it “proactively contacted the state attorneys general and diligently produced information to a multistate working group regarding the cause of the restatement and demonstrating that affected consumers had been fully reimbursed.”
Hyundai admitted no wrongdoing as part of the deal.
“Hyundai ... remains committed to being responsive to customer concerns about our revised fuel economy ratings,” Hyundai America CEO David Zuchowski said in a statement.