Diesel Jeep Liberty R.I.P. in U.S.
DaimlerChrysler announced Monday that the company will stop making the diesel Jeep Liberty SUV for sale in the U.S., despite better-than-expected sales in 2005. According to the Detroit News, the compact SUV's engine doesn't meet new tough federal emissions standards that will kick in next year and Chrysler didn't want to put a newer engine into the Liberty. A Chrysler spokeswoman told the Detroit News, "The emission standards are becoming very stringent, and we weren't able to make a credible business case for a limited production vehicle."
The company is not giving up on diesel altogether. A diesel version of the Grand Cherokee SUV is coming in 2007. Diesel Liberty vehicles, which are built in Toledo, will still be sold in Europe. The new diesel regulations have also affected Volkswagen, which recently announced they would not release any diesel versions of their Jetta, Golf or Beetle models in 2007.
[Source: The Detroit News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Phil L. 11:48AM (6/07/2006)
Aarrrggghhh!
I've waited all this time for low-sulphur fuel to finally bring diesel into the US mainstream. And just when fuel improvements can make help make clean diesels a reality - emissions requirements jump ahead of where the manufacturers are.
When will we get the clean, efficient diesels that Europe gets?
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Charles S 4:53PM (6/07/2006)
"When will we get the clean, efficient diesels that Europe gets?"
Well, it depends on how "clean" you want it. Europe's requirements for diesel cars are less strict than US, and I read somewhere that air quality in parts of Europe has suffered since the rise in sales of diesel vehicles.
Since the future of emissions restrictions are only going to get tougher, diesels probably will be more complex and expensive. It will be interesting to see how DCX's BlueTec line of vehicles will hold up in the coming years. At this point, it seems that DCX can only offer the technology on the premium product line.
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Phil L. 6:13PM (6/07/2006)
Yes, thetruthaboutcars.com likely best describes the Europe vs. US difference on diesel emissions:
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/content/110808115607231877/
Basically, Europe has decided that carbon (i.e., global warming) is more important than pollutants (diesel's better mileage means less carbon, even if more pollutants). The US has decided the opposite.
It appears the E320 will be the only diesel car in the US for 2007.
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Trey H 11:18AM (6/08/2006)
"When will we get the clean, efficient diesels that Europe gets?"
Find the polician who was behind the Tier 2/Bin 5 initiative and ask them that question. That's what happens when you set your emissions requirements out of sync with the European requirements, the largest diesel marketplace on the planet. Suddenly all of those wonderful diesels that could be sold in the US are excluded.
A non-ranting answer? 2008.
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Charles S 12:46PM (6/08/2006)
Trey H.
I have to assume you don't live in big cities. In the US, we are getting more and more pollution alert days, and the a good part of that has everything to do with auto emissions.
Tier 2 Bin 5 is rated POOR in the scale of what is possible in emission standards today.
The healthcare cost of respiratory problems alone should make people think twice about too many diesels on the road. The problem is going to get worse, as babyboomers enter an age where pollution days will greatly affect their ability to go outdoor.
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The EPA has to much power!!!! 3:45AM (10/25/2007)
Now that Daimler Chrysler, Volkswagen, Toyota and any other company that manufactures Compact or midsize diesel vehicles can't sell them in the United States anymore, Americans are limited on fuel eficient vehicles that they can buy now.
All of these vehicles get twice the miles per gallon then any gasoline vehicle manufactured in the United States does.
I guess they Should change Americas slogan to "America, land of the not so free"
Diesel is the way to go. the EPA needs to relax ther standards. My hopes of importing a Toyota Hilux pick up are dwindeling by the day.
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