Mercedes is “undecided” about whether to resume sales of diesel-powered vehicles in the Unites States – probably because it has yet to receive permission from Uncle and it’s becoming too much hassle (and expense).
EPA ayatollahs said in September 2015 that they would review all U.S. light vehicles with diesel engines following an admission from Volkswagen AG that it had installed software in vehicles that enabled them to “cheat” on the EPA’s emissions tests.
In April 2016, the U.S. Department of Justice asked Daimler to investigate the emissions certification process for its Mercedes vehicles.
Dietmar Exler, president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA, told reporters at the New York Auto Show earlier this week that the company’s engineers are “in talks” with the EPA over the diesel vehicles. He said he was not aware of the status of those talks.
“No decision made one way or the other,” on the future of diesel sales, he added.
Exler said the automaker plans a big boost in electric vehicles, adding 10 new EVs by 2025 worldwide, including 7 or 8 coming to the United States. “That’s going to be the big focus going forward,” he said.
Teethe hurt yet?
He declined to comment on the status of the EPA review, saying if a “regulatory investigation is ongoing and you are not involved, it does not make sense to comment.”
In March, German prosecutors said they had opened an investigation into whether Daimler employees may have committed fraud in a probe tied to diesel vehicle emissions.
Fiat Chrysler is also still trying to win U.S. approval to sell 2017 diesel models as the U.S. government decides whether to take legal action.
The EPA accused the Italian-American automaker of illegally using undeclared software to allow excess diesel emissions from 104,000 U.S. trucks and SUVs. The EPA has refused to grant Fiat Chrysler approval to sell 2017 diesel models.
VW Group of America chief Hinrich Woebcken reiterated on Wednesday the company has no plans to resume sales of new diesel models in the U.S.
