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Originally Posted by 44 mpg by 2010
EU pricing already includes the cost of DPF. And Urea-injection NOx suppression is not the only acceptable strategy as demonstrate by VW.
You seem agrue that there is little or no interest in diesel within the US. Many think otherwise.
The idea of "FULL" temporary WAIVER is to allow a VERY quick "NO/LOW" cost (and low risk) test of US automotive market interest/acceptance with the possibility of stimulating the market, openning a new untapped market segment, and potentually expanding Det3 market share!
There would be no re-engineer or calibration under the temporary waiver.
IF there is reasonable (and profitable) acceptance then domestic (US) manufacture comes into play which would require bringing the vehicles into compliance with domestic standards (or the standards could be "homoginized"?).
BTW, are you saying that Audi, BMW Mercedes, and VW have terminated their NA diesel programs? How, about Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, and others?
I do agree that it is VERY SAD that GM (plus Ford and now Chrysler/Fiat) can not take advantage of their advances in FUEL FRUGAL small displacement turbo diesels here in the US.
Just maybe something like the TEMPORARY (24 month) WAIVER could break the stalemate in technology, the market, fuel economy/petroleum consumption, as well as OUR economy, even improved energy independence and National Security.
Your opinions ... please ....
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You might have misunderstood me. What you're saying sounds great to me... I would much rather have Euro 5 regulations in the US. I'm just saying that it won't happen. Our government is already trying to make it worse by allowing state-mandated regulations. Congress and Obama wouldn't even consider backing off on current regulations.
I'm actually quite well-informed on the current diesel situation in NA. Yes, I know for a fact that there are people that want a diesel car, even with current fuel prices. There's just not ENOUGH demand. The profit margins on these diesel cars are tiny and you have to sell a lot of them for there to be a business case. The market conditions for a diesel will be much more favorable in 2-3 years as the Gas-Diesel price ratio begins to equalize. Most of the OEM's have suspended their diesel-car plans until market conditions become favorable (when oil prices go back up, and Gas-Diesel price ratio equalizes).
Audi/BMW/Mercedes can pull this off because they are premium vehicles. They have high transaction prices for those vehicles so they can afford to provide a very expensive engine. GM could have done a diesel CTS but they probably felt that it would be bad for the brand image.
And it's not like this is about better engineering by other OEM's. All of the OEM's knows how to do a 50-state diesel right now, it's a matter of whether they want to... because it's easier to make money off of a gasoline-powered car.
And it’s what is on the horizon, that raises the question of whether diesels will even be able to be sold in NA in the future. If they continue to ratchet down all the way to Tier2-Bin2/SULEV, diesel cars probably won't stand a chance.
So again, I think your idea is great. But our Government wouldn’t go for it. Their long-term strategy is geared towards pushing OEM’s to build electric cars. They don’t care about diesels.