Fiat News: Rumorpile: FCA Considers Calling It Quits on Diesel

[William Maley]

More and more automakers are beginning to turn away from diesel due to demand for the fuel dropping and the rising costs of making engines compliant. The latest automaker that could be leaving the diesel fraternity is Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.

The Financial Times has learned from sources that FCA plans on eliminating diesel engines from their passenger vehicles by 2022. This will be announced during the reveal of FCA's new four-year plan expected to take place on June 1st. FCA will continue to utilize diesel engines in commercial vehicles (including Ram Trucks), though it is unclear for how long.

FCA declined to comment on this report when asked by Reuters.

Source: Financial Times (Subscription Required), Reuters via Automotive News (Subscription Required)

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[David]

Makes total sense since keeping the bad emission part is so much more difficult in the diesel car. Sadly cost of the powertrain are outweighing the gas mileage benefits.

[Drew Dowdell]

Almost none of FCA's last 4 year plan was actually implemented except for Alfa (late) and a couple Jeeps.... 

[David]

32 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

Almost none of FCA's last 4 year plan was actually implemented except for Alfa (late) and a couple Jeeps.... 

So true in thinking about this, 4 year Vapor Plans. Wonder what the new 4yr Vapor plan will be once the new CEO takes over. 

With the changing of the Guard, this makes one wonder why bother releasing a 4yr plan with an outgoing CEO. Might as well wait till the new CEO is in at least 90 days and then release a plan.

[smk4565]

Considers?  Volvo just announced that they aren’t going to develop another internal combustion engine, that the one in cars now is the last they will make.  You can’t put money into diesel it is yesterday’s technology.

[ocnblu]

Volvo is FAR from relevant in the industry, and this latest announcement from them diminishes them even further.

[William Maley]

18 minutes ago, ocnblu said:

Volvo is FAR from relevant in the industry, and this latest announcement from them diminishes them even further.

So Jaguar Land Rover, Infiniti, GM (to a point) announced their electrification plants are they "FAR from relevant"?

Volvo is taking a big gamble with their decision and I like they are taking a chance. Whether or not it will work out remains to be seen.

[daves87rs]

7 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

Almost none of FCA's last 4 year plan was actually implemented except for Alfa (late) and a couple Jeeps.... 

Still wondering why they  bother making plans.....they could just make it up on the way.....

[Drew Dowdell]

2 minutes ago, daves87rs said:

Still wondering why they  bother making plans.....they could just make it up on the way.....

They need something to fill the time at shareholder meetings

[daves87rs]

3 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

They need something to fill the time at shareholder meetings

Gotta give them some hope....

[regfootball]

On 2/26/2018 at 3:46 PM, smk4565 said:

Considers?  Volvo just announced that they aren’t going to develop another internal combustion engine, that the one in cars now is the last they will make.  You can’t put money into diesel it is yesterday’s technology.

bet those Mercedes diesels are still sweet tho ^^huh^^^

[smk4565]

1 hour ago, regfootball said:

bet those Mercedes diesels are still sweet tho ^^huh^^^

The ones they quit selling in the USA 2 years ago?  And they only have them in Europe because it is so diesel heavy, they won't develop a new diesel.

[ocnblu]

Notice the fine print.  Trucks and other commercial vehicles from FCA will still be available with economical, durable diesel powerplants. 

[Drew Dowdell]

3 hours ago, ocnblu said:

Notice the fine print.  Trucks and other commercial vehicles from FCA will still be available with economical, durable diesel powerplants. 

Probably Jeeps as well. All Jeeps are technically classified as light trucks, so while the Renegade and Compass will probably never get diesels, the Wrangler and Grand Cherokee still probably could. 

This announcement really means just no Chrysler 300, Alfa Romeo Guilia, or Maserati Ghibli diesels.... in Europe, no Fiat 500 diesels.  So it's a much smaller announcement than it appears.

[David]

5 hours ago, ocnblu said:

Notice the fine print.  Trucks and other commercial vehicles from FCA will still be available with economical, durable diesel powerplants. 

 ECONOMICAL  

Yes they get solid high mpg, but due to the much higher cost of the powertrain as well as the cost of the fuel, it has been proven that for 90% Plus of buyers, Diesel is NOT ECONOMICAL!

balthazar and others did the math and it ran from 10 to 20 years to break even on Diesel!

  ECONOMICAL  

[Drew Dowdell]

10 minutes ago, dfelt said:

 ECONOMICAL  

Yes they get solid high mpg, but due to the much higher cost of the powertrain as well as the cost of the fuel, it has been proven that for 90% Plus of buyers, Diesel is NOT ECONOMICAL!

balthazar and others did the math and it ran from 10 to 20 years to break even on Diesel!

  ECONOMICAL  

As with all things, it depends on how you use it.  If you already own a boat or camper that you tow often... if you are using your truck for hauling work like my parents do.... then diesel will make up the cost sooner.   Using a gasoline turbo V6 in that way will cause the fuel economy to drop much faster than it would with a diesel.

That said, I want to remind people that you should never measure the ROI in years but in miles.  I have a friend who leases his vehicles and barely does 20k miles in 3 years where as Balth might do 20k in a year.

[ocnblu]

Someone is using my emojis against me.  *GASP*