EPA hits BMW over gas mileage claims

The Environmental Protection Agency is forcing BMW to lower its fuel economy claims for the automaker’s 2014 Mini Cooper, following a finding that the vehicles get less miles per gallon than advertised.

The action follows an EPA fuel economy audit that yielded results out of line with numbers cited by BMW, the agency said.

{mosads}Subsequent testing by the company, and at the EPA’s National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory in Michigan, found mileage assessments for four 2014 Mini Cooper models were off by between one and four miles per gallon.

As a result, the EPA is requiring BMW to relabel the models with lower fuel economy values.

“Fuel economy values matter to consumers and automakers,” said Christopher Grundler, director of EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality.

The EPA audits are part of a continuous program used to ensure that vehicles on the nation’s roadways meet national tailpipe emission standards in place to protect public health and the environment, as well as mileage claims submitted to the agency.

“To provide consumers with the most accurate, reliable and repeatable fuel economy values, we are continuing to strengthen our oversight to ensure fair competition among automakers,” Gundler said.