Mercedes wants 10% of their US sales to be diesels by 2010
In 2007 Mercedes-Benz is starting a major diesel push in the US market with the introduction of their BlueTec emissions technology. Mercedes sales and marketing boss Klaus Maier wants to see diesels comprise ten percent of US sales for the Stuttgart car-maker by 2010. A 45-state legal E320 diesel has been available since last October and additional 50-state legal models will be available later this year.
The fifty-state legal models will have the phase two BlueTec system that adds a urea injection system to almost completely eliminate the NOx emissions. DaimlerChrysler will also be installing BlueTec diesels in Chrysler models starting with the updated Jeep Grand Cherokee this spring and spreading to other models in the next couple of model years. DCX has also licensed the technology to Volkswagen and BMW for their diesel engines.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. req'd]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ron Fischer 7:06PM (3/28/2007)
Great to see MB doing this. Its clear automakers would prefer expansion of diesel sales in the US rather than hybrids or (shudder) some kind of BEV. Let's hope diesel fuel doesn't get too expensive relative to gasoline... and that Bluetec is as durable as they claim.
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Anthony 5:30PM (3/28/2007)
Weren't they at least 10%, once upon a time?
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DPC car videos 7:17PM (3/28/2007)
Certainly it won't be 10% in the US market. I remember in the late 70's and early 80's Mercedes had a very healthy sales of diesel cars in the US. My father even had one and was his favorite. But these days we have very few diesel cars around where I live. Most gas stations here don't even carry diesel fuel.
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Chris Adams 8:33PM (4/03/2007)
We have plenty of diesel stations here in Florida. Whichever German automaker has the first diesel sedan/coupe (i.e. Audi A4 or C-class benz) under $40K, will have my money. Can't wait to trade in the Camry Hybrid - but it will do for now. You hear me Audi? You hear me Daimler Chrysler? BMW please separate Nav from the i-Drive and I'd consider a diesel 3-series......
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TDI-Nick 7:41PM (5/31/2007)
Yes new turbo diesel 3 and 5 series BMWs in the USA!! The last ones sold are 524TDs which are 20+ years old and getting harder to keep running. Please endorse B20 bio also.
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