Is Dieselgate The FINAL Nail In The Coffin For Diesel Vehicles In The States?

With the rain cloud hanging over Volkswagen Auto Group (VWAG) it's not looking good for our German friends. Whether or not the company will be forced to pay billions in fines has yet to materialize, but at this stage heads are starting to roll.

First up, Martin Winterkorn. 

Next? Who knows.

Watching all of the madness unfold, Agent 001, Agent 009 and I have been swapping text messages throughout the recent days. Not only are story ideas being exchanged, but the big elephant in the room has been tossed around. And as I was taught by a much elder, wiser individual: "When there's an elephant in the room, introduce it."

Let's face it: Although many automakers have been pushing for its diesel variants, the take rate hasn't been especially strong with the exception of trucks, sport-utility vehicles, the Volkswagen Golf/Jetta and Audi A3. How many BMW 3- or 5-Series do you see wearing the "d" nameplate? How many diesel Chevrolet Cruze models do you come across?

And now this?

It seems that the backlash is quite strong too. Personally, I didn't think consumers would care too much as they still had their fuel savings. Turns out I have to eat crow now because people are pissed. I wonder if they're pissed because of the potential harm done to the environment or if it's because Volkswagen has admitted cheating. If there's one thing the public hates, it's cheaters.

All of that said, I have to ask: Is Volkswagen's Dieselgate the FINAL nail in the coffin for diesel vehicles in the U.S.?

trmckin - 9/24/2015 2:20:28 AM

+3 Boost

Snack time^

atc98092 - 9/24/2015 8:02:06 AM

+2 Boost

An electric car would have the same low end punch as my Passat. That's one of the things I like about a diesel. The other is the low cost per mile to drive. Again, electric can do that, even better than my TDI. I've watched Tesla with interest, but am not going to pay that much for a car this close to retirement. When the Model 3 comes out, it will be a strong candidate for my next car.

jameswisrik - 9/24/2015 8:10:11 AM

-1 Boost

IT WILL BE THE END OF "CLEAN DIESEL" AND "TRUTH IN ENGINEERING".

Vette71 - 9/24/2015 11:14:48 AM

+4 Boost

Other diesels are clean. VW didn't want to incur the extra hardware cost of the clean up systems.

MDarringer - 9/24/2015 8:47:36 AM

+1 Boost

The fact of the matter is that the USA seems to be embracing electricity for propulsion. Thus, hybriization (sic) makes sense.

If VW has brains--and they don't--they would replace their current line with newly named, much differently styled vehicles that are hybrids to begin with, PHEV one step up, and EV above that.

TomM - 9/24/2015 9:55:22 AM

0 Boost

Actually - the low gas prices in the USA eliminates the need - so Hybrids do not sell well - and are getting discontinued. Diesel buyers are a niche in the USA - just like Hybrid buyers - and they are likely to continue to buy them - but those who bought their first diesel to see what they are like - are likely not to get another - so numbers will be small.

VW will not be able to hide behind different names and styling (Unless the styling is really really great - and they are too conservative for that). If this problem is limited to the cars so far named - they might be able to weather the storm here - but if it extends to another engine size - forget it. And while VW is under the microscope - they have reliability issues that were formerly covered by being GERMAN - which will now come out as well.

Vette71 - 9/24/2015 10:28:21 AM

+2 Boost

VW cut corners to keep the price down on sedans that still performed well and were economical. Other manufacturers who use urea based clean-up systems have demonstrated that they can eliminate the NOx and keep the fuel efficiency, torque and lower CO2 emissions/mile that are the haul marks of a diesel. As V8's fade away there are still buyers that need that power and like the fuel efficiency, so diesel makes sense. Think vehicles that do work like tow, pickups, SUVs etc., or enable long cruising cross country road trips. Electrics can't do that without a lot of inconvenience. 650 mile range across rural areas without having to stop or worries about where to recharge has its benefits.

rockreid - 9/24/2015 11:27:51 AM

+1 Boost

"cheating"? really??? marking cards at a $5 poker game is cheating. We are talking about $18 BILLION in massive outright corporate FRAUD. Gone is the trust of those who plonked down $30k+ on a TDI in the US. Whether they are pissed or not from violating EPA standards is small potatoes. The REAL elephant in the room is that VAG promised customer one thing and LIED LIED LIED to them in a very deceptive and disrespectful manner. Also gone is the notion that these large corporations should be left alone to do whatever they want because they can just govern themselves and will always do what is good for their customers and shareholders. what a bunch of utter bull***.

mini22 - 9/26/2015 1:28:38 AM

+1 Boost

I think VW has seriously damaged the diesel market in the US. It has not been strong to begin with. I think they will be forced to change gears and move into the hybrid market for now. I also think that this will affect other car manufacturers producing diesel cars in the US.