Will diesel VWs ever return to the U.S.?

[Titan ;x]

 

Wolfsburg slowly backs away from promises of new TDI models in the States

Months after indicating diesel models may be back on sale in the U.S. in 2017, it appears Volkswagen will not offer diesel vehicles in the U.S. for the 2016 and 2017 model years. The automaker has not applied for certification of TDI vehicles from the VW, Audi and Porsche brands, weeks after several executives downplayed the chances of diesels making it back to the market in the near future.

This gradual turn toward almost ruling out the return of TDI models to the American market took place over the last few months, with some pointing to VW's struggles in obtaining approval for a technical fix for affected U.S. models, as well as fears over customer response and dealer bottom line.

"The future is electric," VW CEO Matthias Mueller said on the eve of the Paris auto show. "Nevertheless, classic powertrains will continue to play a key role for the next two decades, at least. We must and we will press ahead with the evolution of diesel and petrol engines. And at the same time, we will progress with alternative technologies."
 

VW executives' hints regarding the issue only concern the U.S. and Canada; VW is not abandoning diesel in dozens of other world markets, including those where diesel sales are on par with gasoline-model sales.

"'Diesel is and will remain an incisive turning point, a pivotal event in our history," Mueller added. "We are working with all available resources to get to the roots of this crisis and work our way through all of the issues. And we have made substantial progress in this regard in recent months. However, shaping a sustainable future for Volkswagen is at least as important."

VW is still working on a technical solution for a portion of the 482,000 VW and Audi 2.0-liter TDI models expected to be repaired -- no greater than 15 percent of the remaining diesels on the road -- and an additional 85,000 VW, Audi and Porsche models that use the larger 3.0-liter engine.

While VW reached a deal with U.S. federal authorities over the 2.0-liter diesel issue in June of this year, the fate of the larger diesels remains unresolved as VW works toward a solution that will be approved by the EPA -- expected to come sometime this month.