Dec 17 (Reuters) - Australia's competition watchdog said
on Tuesday it has taken Exxon Mobil's ( XOM ) local brand
affiliate to court, claiming it misled customers about fuel sold
at six of its branded petrol stations in Queensland.
Mobil is a petroleum brand owned and operated by American
oil and gas corporation Exxon Mobil ( XOM ).
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)
alleges that Mobil falsely represented that its "Mobil Synergy"
contained certain additives, when it did not.
"Consumers have no way of verifying the claims made about
the fuel they put into their tank and rely on the accuracy of
claims made by the fuel supplier," the ACCC Commissioner Liza
Carver said.
The firm further incorrectly claimed that the fuel sold at
these petrol stations had a different quality or composition
compared to fuel at its other sites, and contained certain extra
benefits, the ACCC added.
"This conduct, which is isolated to six sites representing
less than 1% of the entire Mobil-branded network, occurred as a
result of a number of operational difficulties, including
unanticipated delays associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and
related supply issues, as well as the remote location of the
sites involved," a Mobil spokesperson told Reuters.
Exxon Mobil Australia, in an email to Reuters, said it had
accepted the ACCC proceedings and has co-operated fully with the
regulator during its investigation.
The firm said it is taking steps to ensure it does not
engage in similar conduct going forward.