Australia takes Exxon’s native petrol model to courtroom over false gas representations

(Reuters) -Australia’s competitors watchdog mentioned on Tuesday it has taken Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM)’s native model affiliate to courtroom, claiming it misled clients about gas bought at six of its branded petrol stations in Queensland.

Mobil is a petroleum model owned and operated by American oil and gasoline company Exxon Mobil.

The Australian Competitors and Client Fee (ACCC) alleges that Mobil falsely represented that its “Mobil Synergy” contained sure components, when it didn’t.

“Shoppers haven’t any means of verifying the claims made concerning the gas they put into their tank and depend on the accuracy of claims made by the gas provider,” the ACCC Commissioner Liza Carver mentioned.

The agency additional incorrectly claimed that the gas bought at these petrol stations had a distinct high quality or composition in comparison with gas at its different websites, and contained sure further advantages, the ACCC added.

“This conduct, which is remoted to 6 websites representing lower than 1% of the complete Mobil-branded community, occurred on account of quite a few operational difficulties, together with unanticipated delays related to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated provide points, in addition to the distant location of the websites concerned,” a Mobil spokesperson informed Reuters.

Exxon Mobil Australia, in an e mail to Reuters, mentioned it had accepted the ACCC proceedings and has co-operated absolutely with the regulator throughout its investigation.

The agency mentioned it’s taking steps to make sure it doesn’t interact in related conduct going ahead.