The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has initiated legal action in the Federal Court against Mobil Oil Australia Pty Ltd, accusing the company of making false and misleading claims about the fuel sold at six Mobil-branded service stations in north and central Queensland.
The allegations concern the period between August 2020 and July 2024, during which Mobil is said to have advertised its fuel at these locations as ‘Mobil Synergy’ – a premium product purportedly enhanced with specific additives. However, the ACCC claims that Mobil did not actually supply Mobil Synergy fuel to these outlets.
Furthermore, the ACCC alleges that Mobil misrepresented the fuel’s quality and composition, claiming it offered benefits that distinguished it from standard fuel sold by other retailers. These purported benefits included:
- Protecting engines from corrosion
- Reducing or eliminating harmful engine deposits
- Improving fuel efficiency
- Lowering emissions
- Cleaning and protecting engine components
- Enhancing or maintaining optimal engine performance
“Consumers trust the claims made by fuel suppliers, as they have no way of independently verifying the quality or composition of the fuel they purchase,” stated ACCC Commissioner Liza Carver.
“We allege that Mobil’s actions misled consumers, depriving them of the ability to make informed choices. If customers had known the claims were inaccurate, they might have opted to purchase fuel from other providers,” Ms Carver added.
The ACCC is pursuing penalties, declarations, legal costs, and additional remedies in response to the alleged misconduct.
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