Consumers sue automakers for overstated fuel efficiency

A group of some 1,700 local consumers launched a class-action lawsuit against six local and foreign automakers Monday, claiming that they have overstated the gas mileage of some of their vehicles.

In the lawsuit to be filed with the Seoul Central District Court, the plaintiffs sought between 1.5 million won and 3 million won (US$1,490-$2,960) each in compensation for the mileage gap.

The move comes after the government said last month that it will fine two local SUV makers and four import car brands for inflating mileage figures. 

The vehicles are Hyundai Motor Co.'s Santa Fe 2-liter diesel front-wheel-drive SUV, Ssangyong Motor Co.'s Korando Sports 2-liter diesel, Audi's A4 2.0 TDI, Volkswagen's Tiguan 2.0 TDI CUV, Chrysler's Jeep Grand Cherokee and BMW's Mini Cooper Countryman.

"We calculated the amount of damages after taking into consideration various factors such as price difference between vehicles due to overstated fuel efficiency, the amount of money spent on gas and damages earned from mental stress," a lawyer representing the plaintiffs said at a press conference.

The mileage issue came to the forefront last year when local drivers questioned the fuel economy figures for the Santa Fe and Korando Sports after Hyundai Motor was sued for overstating the fuel economy of some of its cars in the U.S. in 2012.

Earlier, the court ruled against a separate lawsuit filed by three consumers against Hyundai Motor, saying that the automaker did not violate the fair trade act. (Yonhap)