Maruti Suzuki India Limited was recently fined ₹1 lakh by the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) for misleading mileage claims regarding one of their car models, the Maruti Zen. This ruling comes 20 years after the car was purchased by a customer, Rajiv Sharma, in 2004. Sharma was enticed by advertisements promising a fuel economy of 16-18 kilometers per liter, but post-purchase, he discovered that the car’s actual mileage was considerably lower, averaging only 10.2 kilometers per liter.
Dissatisfied with this discrepancy, Sharma approached the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, seeking a full refund of the car’s purchase price, including interest, registration expenses, and insurance, totaling ₹4,00,000. The District Forum awarded him a compensation of ₹1 lakh, a decision that was upheld by the State Commission upon appeal by Maruti Suzuki. When the case reached the NCDRC, it was led by Justice Inder Jit Singh, and both parties submitted written arguments. The NCDRC ultimately concluded that Maruti Suzuki’s advertised mileage claims were misleading and a violation of consumer rights, thereby upholding the previous rulings and ordering the automobile giant to compensate Mr. Sharma with ₹1 lakh.
This case highlights the importance of accurate and honest advertising, especially in industries like automotive manufacturing where consumers rely heavily on advertised specifications when making purchase decisions [❞] [❞].
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