Diesels are not viable in the Unites States, says Hyundai CEO

I don't buy it. Diesels are selling briskly here in the US. My daughter has an 09 Jetta, and I'm waffling between a Touareg V6 TDI and waiting for Audi to bring the A4 with one. The 335d is a nice option as well, but I don't really need a performance car. When I check the local BMW dealers (several in the area) it's rare to find a 335d or X5d in stock. The VW dealers don't have a lot of Jettas either, especially the wagon.

I can only speak for my area (San Diego)... Diesels don't sell to well (at least I don't see any) because there aren't very many gas stations that cary diesel. I know for me personally if I had to fill up with diesel the only option is the station that only takes cash, which simply doesn't work for me. Unless we start getting more diesel stations I don't see it taking off where I live

Fuel availability is certainly a factor. Here in the Seattle area diesel is easily found. Biodiesel is harder to come by in some areas, but of course you can't use anything higher than B5 in these new diesels.

you can use anything you want, including B100 (if it's not freezing outside and you don't have a garage)

Is Hyundai saying this because they don't have a good diesel in their lineup? Maybe some of our European members can shed some light on this.

I'm with Willis. VW has TDI everywhere. Just look at the VWs when your driving down the street.

Larry Key West.

Not many v-dubs or diesels in Michigan or Indiana

Hyundai wasn't viable at all in the US until the past few years for any vehicles, and I don't understand the statement about a 6K markup for diesel. VW has already proven otherwise.

Bigwigs at Mercedes have concluded that the problem with the cleanliness of diesel engines at this point has more to do with the fuel itself than the engines or the technology connected to them. In order for diesel to compete with gasoline effectively the traditional diesel fuel must change. Biodiesel is the only answer to that problem. This argument about B5 has nothing to do with the current diesels being able to handle higher percentages. It has to do with the fact that any higher than that and there will be difficulty with it in cooler climates. Biodiesel gels at a higher temperature than petrodiesel. Here in Jamaica Hyundai offers a very refined V6 diesel engine in the Santa Fe and an equally refined I4 in the Tucson. I have no word on the emissions, however, because we have no emission laws here.

News Flash!!
Hyundai CEO Dumb as a Box of Rocks....Film at 11

If Hyundai can meet the European Diesel Emissions Standards, meeting the US Emissions Standards isn't that much of a Stretch.

I really shouldn't be too hard on Krafcik, all the REAL decisions at Hyundai are made by the MORONS in Korea.

The whole idea of introducing diesels to the US was nothing else than marketing BS.

1) 6K markup at current pricing state is not easy for Hyundai buyers as well as Hyundai themselves.
2) Hyundai already made statement back in Nov 2008 when they introduced R-engine. Even though they meet Euro V requirements, they said to have no plan introducing in US due to same reasons stated above.
3) Did anyone see Toyota/Honda diesel sedans in US? Haven't they think to introduce their own? Gasoline is main pipeline for US selling cars and Hyundai needs to concentrate selling them more instead of introducing diesel and begin another challenge.

This is nothing new and the reason is easy (They need a little more time to copy a diesel engine from german brand) Then they are going to show and sale like the last great thing in the world....lol
They always copies design for year and now in 2009 they finally make some decents copies models so let see in two or three year about theirs quality.