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The civil penalty is the largest yet for a Clean Air Act violation in the US. Neither automaker admitted liability.
The discrepancy was discovered after the US Environmental Protection Agency received complaints that real-life fuel consumption was higher than that advertised for Hyundai's Elantra. Audits discovered overstated fuel economy on the Elantra and other models from 2011 into 2013.
COMPLIED WITH THE LAW?
Hyundai says it made honest mistakes in interpreting complex EPA fuel-consumption test requirements. Neither company admitted liability; both maintained they complied with the law.
Generally, EPA tests claimed, fuel consumption was understated by 0.5-0.8km/litre averaged over 13 vehicles. One car, however, advertised consumption 2.5-litres/100km lower than that achieved when tested by the EPA.
