Ford lowers fuel economy rating for six vehicles

The company logo is seen on the bonnet of a Ford car during the media day ahead of the 84th Geneva Motor Show at the Palexpo Arena in Geneva March 5, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

Ford Motor Co said on Thursday it was lowering the fuel economy ratings on six of its models, including a number of hybrids, and would reimburse owners for the difference.

The No 2 US automaker said the ratings would be cut on its 2013 and 2014 model year hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles as well as most 2014 Fiesta cars. It was the second time Ford cut fuel ratings for the C-Max hybrid in under a year.

"We apologize to our customers and will provide goodwill payments to affected owners," Ford CEO Alan Mulally said in a statement. "We also are taking steps to improve our processes and prevent issues like this from happening again."

The restatement of mileage estimates is nothing new in the auto industry.

Last August, Ford - which has touted its superior fuel efficiency in the past - cut the ratings for the C-Max hybrid by up to 7 miles per gallon following complaints from consumers and experts that the model's actual mileage fell short of claims.

In 2012, an investigation by the US Environmental Protection Agency showed that both Hyundai Motor Co and its affiliate Kia Motors Corp overstated fuel economy by at least a mile per gallon. The South Korean carmakers last December agreed to pay $395 million to settle lawsuits related to the matter.

"Ford isn't the first manufacturer to admit that it was optimistic in its EPA fuel economy ratings, and it might not be the last," said Jack R Nerad, editorial director at Kelley Blue Book's KBB.com.

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