news

Volkswagen to withdraw diesels from US market, Mercedes-Benz could follow – report

Volkswagen will not offer new diesel models in the US, the company's brand chief has announced this week, ahead of more stringent regulations that will come into effect by the end of the decade.


German newspaper Handelblatt reports that the automotive giant has made the decision to withdraw its diesel offerings, contrary to previous reports that Volkswagen executives indicated TDI models may come back to the States for the one or two years leading up to the new, stricter diesel laws.

Herbert Diess, Volkswagen's brand chief, told the German publication: "We are working under the assumption that we will no longer offer diesel vehicles in the United States".

"The reason is the legal framework," he added, referring to the US's far stricter nitrogen oxide emissions compared to Europe.


Above: 2017 Volkswagen Golf '7.5'

Earlier this year the company's US chief, Hinrich J. Woebcken said TDI variants could return to the US for the 2017 through 2019 model years, however Diess's comments indicate this will not be the case.

As a result, Volkswagen will no longer sell TDI variants of the Golf, Jetta, Beetle, Passat and Touareg in the US, though subsidiaries Audi and Porsche are expected to continue selling some diesels for now.

This latest report comes in the wake of the company's well-documented Dieselgate emissions scandal that first broke in 2015.

Volkswagen is still expected to fix thousands of 2.0-litre TDI models in the US, which owners have elected to keep after the recall was issued. The company is yet to resolve the most recent allegations against the group's 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel, which is said to also contain a cheat device.


Above: Porsche Cayenne

According to Autoweek, Volkswagen is set to repair around 60,000 Audi and Porsche models fitted with the unit and has bought back an additional amount of these vehicles from customers.

Meanwhile, luxury marque Mercedes-Benz is also considering dropping its diesel-powered models in the US citing dwindling demand.

In a new report by industry journal Automotive News, the company is conducting market research in the wake of more rigorous emissions tests and declining sales.


Above: Mercedes-Benz GLS

Matthias Luehrs, vice president of sales and product management for Mercedes-Benz, told the publication dropping diesels in the US "is a theoretical option".

"We have to look at that and see whether it makes sense to offer diesels in the future," he said.

Last month the company announced it would no longer offer the diesel C-Class in the US, while it is still seeking certification for the diesel-powered GLS, GLC and GLE SUVs.

MORE:Volkswagen Showroom
MORE:Volkswagen News
MORE:Volkswagen Reviews
MORE:Search Used Volkswagen Cars for Sale
MORE:Volkswagen Showroom
MORE:Volkswagen News
MORE:Volkswagen Reviews
MORE:Search Used Volkswagen Cars for Sale
Chat with us!







Chat with Agent