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Fiat, VW Face Italian Lawsuit Over Fuel Economy Claims
A consumer group has filed a lawsuit in Italy claiming the real-world fuel economy of some Fiat and Volkswagen models is as much as 50% lower than advertised, the Financial Times reports.
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A consumer group has filed a lawsuit in Italy claiming the real-world fuel economy of some Fiat and Volkswagen models is as much as 50% lower than advertised, the Financial Times reports.
Milan-based Altroconsumo bases the charges on its own tests of the Fiat Panda 1.2 and VW Golf 1.6 diesel. The group's lawsuit says Fiat and VW owners should each be compensated €239 and €502, respectively. The estimates assume drivers cover 15,000 km per year.
Fiat and VW say their posted fuel economy ratings are based on the EU's sanctioned test cycle. But the FT notes that the current test procedure has been widely criticized for producing unrealistically good results.
The EU hopes to implement a more accurate test regimen in 2017. Carmakers, who are struggling to meet tightening carbon dioxide emissions standards, want to delay changes in the test procedures. They point out that tougher tests would lower fuel economy ratings and raise CO2 ratings for most vehicles.
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