A PYMNTS Company

Australia Court Fines Mobil A$16 Million Over Misleading Fuel Claims

By  |  February 19, 2026
Australia Court Fines Mobil A$16 Million Over Misleading Fuel Claims

The Federal Court of Australia has ordered Mobil Oil Australia to pay A$16 million ($11.3 million) in penalties after finding the company misled consumers about the characteristics of fuel sold at several petrol stations in Queensland, according to Reuters.

    Get the Full Story

    Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.

    yesSubscribe to our daily newsletter, PYMNTS Today.

    By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.

    The action followed proceedings brought by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), which had taken the Exxon Mobil-owned subsidiary to court in 2024. Per Reuters, the regulator alleged that Mobil misrepresented the nature of fuel marketed as “Mobil Synergy Fuel” at a number of its branded service stations in the state.

    Mobil Oil Australia, which distributes petroleum, diesel and other fuel products to retailers nationwide, acknowledged on Tuesday that it had engaged in misleading conduct between August 2020 and July 2024. According to Reuters, the company admitted that it falsely suggested its Mobil Synergy Fuel contained specific additives that were not actually present in the fuel sold at certain locations.

    The ACCC said the conduct took place at nine Mobil-branded petrol stations across north and central Queensland, including sites in Aitkenvale, Barcaldine, Berserker, Biloela, Guthalungra, Proserpine, Rasmussen, Rural View and Yeppoon. Per Reuters, the fuel provided to those stations was identical or substantially similar to unadditised fuel available at other non-Mobil outlets.

    Read more: Michigan Alleges Oil Industry Conspired to Stall EVs and Renewable Power

    Regulators said promotional materials and signage at the affected stations highlighted supposed benefits of Mobil Synergy Fuel, leading customers to believe they were purchasing a higher-grade product. According to Reuters, ACCC Deputy Chair Mick Keogh stated: “We considered it very likely that some people chose to fill up at these petrol stations because they thought they were getting a different quality of petrol with particular benefits for their car engine.”

    The ACCC concluded that the company’s actions breached Australian consumer law. Per Reuters, the court’s ruling imposes one of the more significant penalties in recent years for misleading representations in the fuel retail sector.

    In a statement provided by email, Mobil told Reuters that it has taken corrective measures. According to Reuters, the company said it has either refrained from placing specific benefit claims on fuel bowsers at the affected sites or has removed or covered such claims where Synergy fuel is not available.

    Source: Reuters