Has Volkswagen's Diesel Cheating Ruined The Market For Everyone?

Volkswagen Group's cheating on emissions tests has soured the European car industry's heavy bet on diesel, with Renault, PSA/Peugeot-Citroen and Fiat Chrysler potentially facing bigger long-term setbacks than the company that sparked the crisis.

In the face of that perceived injustice, tensions are mounting behind the united facade that European automakers present to regulators, some of their representatives say.

VW's use of a banned "defeat device" has drawn scrutiny of more widely practiced test manipulation which, although legal, has allowed real-world nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions to surge to more than seven times their European limits.

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trmckin - 10/5/2015 11:04:45 AM

+2 Boost

Looks to me like an opportunity.

Dexter1 - 10/5/2015 11:57:39 AM

+2 Boost

As long as other brands keep everything clean (pollution control and not trying to con the EPA), I believe diesels will recover. Truckers have been riding diesels for years. Everyone knows the mpg and torque benefits.

vdiv - 10/6/2015 12:41:40 PM

+1 Boost

The problem may be that they just can't, or at least this is how they want it to appear at this point:

http://autospies.com/news/Automakers-Come-Clean-And-Tell-European-Regulators-There-Is-No-Way-Any-Diesel-Can-Pass-2020-Standards-86573/

TheSteve - 10/5/2015 12:55:21 PM

+1 Boost

Have gun-related homicides "ruined the [gun] market for everyone" in the US? I believe the cycle is: identify a bad guy, blame the bad guy, punish the bad guy, and continue to go for what you want.

I have to agree with Dexter1 - as long as there are manufacturers who *legitimately* meet emissions standards using diesel, then diesel will make a compelling case for fossil fueled engines.

TomM - 10/5/2015 1:02:56 PM

+1 Boost

In Europe - where the difference in price between Gasoline and Diesel Fuel is monumental - Diesel engine cars will continue to sell well - although I expect that they will need to re-certify them to give assurance to the public. I Expect VW to take a small hit - but not as big as it will take in the USA - where they are basically the market.

In the USA - with Lower Gas Prices now withing striking distance of diesel - the ability to justify the higher cost of a diesel engine in a car is almost getting tooo long to consider. Trucks - Big and small - will still do better with the Diesel - where the torque of the diesel really comes into play.

However - I expected Diesel cars sales to drop - as well as all types of Hybrids- even before this VW thingy. With the Low price of gas - diesel and hybrid costs are not worth the return

MDarringer - 10/5/2015 7:21:43 PM

+1 Boost

The fact that other manufacturers appear NOT to have cheated is indeed an opportunity to steal TDI sales. If I were Mercedes I would whore the CLA out with a diesel at a very attractive price.