It looks like VW’s emissions scandal has ruined the diesel thing for everyone
Following BMW and Porsche, Mercedes-Benz is the latest company affected by the aftermath of "Dieselgate".
The German premium car manufacturer is delaying the U.S. introduction of the diesel-powered C-Class by at least a year.
Mercedes’ initial plan was to introduce the C 300 d in the U.S. during the first quarter of 2016. A diesel version of the GLC compact crossover was also expected this year, but right now the automaker has no firm release date for it either.
“The latest plan is sometime in 2017 (mid-2017 is a reasonable estimate, not firm), but this is certainly subject to change,” Mercedes-Benz spokesman Rob Moran told Automotive News.
Mercedes-Benz didn’t release details as to why it is delaying the U.S. introduction of the diesel models, but it most certainly has something to do with the more intense U.S. regulatory scrutiny of diesel models in the wake of VW’s diesel emissions violations.
Currently, Mercedes-Benz sells one diesel-powered model in the U.S., the 2016 GLE 300 d. By the end of the year, the automaker plans to introduce the 2017 diesel version of the GLE as well as the 2017 GLS 350 d, the diesel version of the brand’s large SUV.
It’s not like diesel-powered models account for a significant chunk of Mercedes’ U.S. sales anyway. According to Mercedes-Benz USA CEO Dietmar Exler, diesels only make up about 1.2 percent of the brand’s U.S. sales.