Mercedez Benz News Mercedes Wonders If Its Worth Selling Diesels In the U.S.

[William Maley]

Thanks to the Volkswagen diesel emission scandal and demand for diesel vehicles beginning to shrink, Mercedes-Benz is wondering if it's time to pull back on their diesel efforts in the U.S. 

"We have to look at that and see whether it makes sense to offer diesels in the future. We have not come to a conclusion but we obviously always tend to develop cars and offer vehicles according to customers' demands," said Matthias Luehrs, vice president of sales and product management for Mercedes-Benz.

Dropping diesels for the U.S. "is a theoretical option," he went onto say.

Mercedes have already dropped plans for bringing the C-Class diesel, a model that was supposed to go on sale earlier this year. Right now, the priority at Mercedes-Benz is getting EPA certification for the GLS-Class. Other models are expected down the road. 

Luehrs said the company is currently doing market research and expects the first results to come in early next year.

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

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[David]

Even with Cheap Gas, Diesel still is much higher than Gas. Smart move to drop Diesels.

[smk4565]

I would say they don't need the diesel, because the plug-in hybrid replaces it.  It has the low end torque, more horsepower, gets the good gas mileage and doesn't pollute as much.  So this is a better way to go than diesel.  What Mercedes should focus on is a 4 cylinder plug in hybrid that would replace the 4 cylinder diesel, and they could put it in a Sprinter too.  The hybrid cost isn't even that much, it is probably cheaper than making a diesel.

[regfootball]

diesel is a legacy thing for Mercedes.  WAYYY BACK WHEN they were a premiere brand for the diesel cause in the US, and it was part of the reason they HAD a rep for their cars going hundreds of thousands of miles.

[balthazar]

Currently here in Jersey, a recent 23-cent gas tax was applied in full. Fuel prices in general are slipping lower tho. Diesel is currently about 10-15 cents cheaper @ 1.97, but the diesel tax of 27 cents is split & deferred; half will hit in 2017, the other in 2018.

- - - - - 

There were a surprising number of diesel options in the U.S. from American truck companies in lines above light duty, including GM, Ford, Chrysler, and ever Studebaker, beginning in the 1950s. They set the foundation for diesel power in the U.S. market. GM especially had reams of early diesel experience via WWII, Euclid & Electromotive, among other Divisions.

[A Horse With No Name]

9 hours ago, balthazar said:

Currently here in Jersey, a recent 23-cent gas tax was applied in full. Fuel prices in general are slipping lower tho. Diesel is currently about 10-15 cents cheaper @ 1.97, but the diesel tax of 27 cents is split & deferred; half will hit in 2017, the other in 2018.

- - - - - 

There were a surprising number of diesel options in the U.S. from American truck companies in lines above light duty, including GM, Ford, Chrysler, and ever Studebaker, beginning in the 1950s. They set the foundation for diesel power in the U.S. market. GM especially had reams of early diesel experience via WWII, Euclid & Electromotive, among other Divisions.

I really like diesel vehicles.  And yes, we have a long legacy of diesel options...

[David]

11 hours ago, balthazar said:

Currently here in Jersey, a recent 23-cent gas tax was applied in full. Fuel prices in general are slipping lower tho. Diesel is currently about 10-15 cents cheaper @ 1.97, but the diesel tax of 27 cents is split & deferred; half will hit in 2017, the other in 2018.

- - - - - 

There were a surprising number of diesel options in the U.S. from American truck companies in lines above light duty, including GM, Ford, Chrysler, and ever Studebaker, beginning in the 1950s. They set the foundation for diesel power in the U.S. market. GM especially had reams of early diesel experience via WWII, Euclid & Electromotive, among other Divisions.

Washington State, Gas average is $2.09 per gallon and Diesel is $2.59. I have seen less and less Diesel on the road.

[A Horse With No Name]

9 minutes ago, dfelt said:

Washington State, Gas average is $2.09 per gallon and Diesel is $2.59. I have seen less and less Diesel on the road.

I still have a full sized diesel truck on my bucket list....

[SoCalCTS]

Dump diesel. Diesel cars and trucks literally stink.

[A Horse With No Name]

27 minutes ago, SoCalCTS said:

Dump diesel. Diesel cars and trucks literally stink.

Meh...I kind of like them.