Mobil Oil Australia is in court for alleged “false” or “misleading” representations about the fuel sold at six Mobil-branded petrol stations in north and central Queensland.
The ACCC alleges that between August 2020 and July 2024, Mobil represented to consumers through the signage and posters at the six retail sites that the fuel being sold was ‘Mobil Synergy’ fuel which contained certain additives, when Mobil didn’t in fact supply Mobil Synergy fuel to these sites.
Additionally, the ACCC alleges that Mobil misrepresented that the fuel sold at the six sites was different in composition or quality to fuel sold at other non-Mobil retail sites, and that it contained additives which provided benefits including:
- Protecting the engines against corrosion
- Reducing and/or removed harmful engine deposits
- Improving economy
- Reducing emissions
- Protecting and cleaning the engine
- Improving and/or ensuring peak engine performance.
The six retail fuel sites at which Mobil allegedly made these false and misleading representations were in Rasmussen, Yeppoon, Barcaldine, Rural View, Proserpine and Aitkenvale, all in north and central Queensland.
“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,” says ACCC Commissioner Liza Carver.
“We allege that Mobil’s conduct denied consumers the opportunity to make an informed purchasing decision and may have diverted some away from other suppliers. If they had known the claims made by Mobil were not correct, some consumers might have filled up their vehicles elsewhere.”
The ACCC is seeking penalties, declarations, costs and other orders.
