Quote:
Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce
They didn't need any help, the problem was the sulfur (sulpher) in diesel fuel prevented them from meeting emission regulations for cars.
ULSF (ultra low sulfur fuel) wasn't available in the US until 2007, and not completely fazed in until 2010. There was something like a 2 or 3 year gap between when the emission standards went into effect, and the availability of ULSF.
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So how is that Mercedes and VW have been able to sell diesel passenger cars here in the US, throughout the 80's, 90's, and today, that meet the US emissions standards just fine?
And even Ford has some great 4-cyl turbo diesel engines that they sell in europe, in several different models of cars and delivery trucks. They've been selling diesels in that market for many years as well.
It has nothing to do with them not being capable of producing a good diesel engine, and it has nothing to do with emissions standards. It's good old fashioned corporate marketing BS - they chose not to sell those engines here in the US, because they didn't feel that it would appeal to American consumers tastes. A poor marketing decision, just like the many poor Big3 marketing decisions before and since.
Unfortunately, the Big3 all believe that American consumers want a bland mundane sedan that is not exceptional in any way, has a very soft mushy suspension, and has a gasoline V6 with automatic transmission.