BMW plans to start sell diesel-powered cars in US within 2 years

[EnI]

BMW plans to sell diesel-powered cars in US - report


LONDON, July 19 (Reuters) - German premium carmaker BMW (BMWG.DE: Quote, Profile, Research) intends to start selling diesel-powered cars in the United States within two years, using a urea-based additive to meet emissions standards, the Financial Times newspaper reported on Wednesday.

"Urea will take another two years but then diesel is really clean and can be sold in all 50 states," the paper quoted BMW sales and marketing head Michael Ganal as saying at the British Internatonal Motor Show.

"The U.S. is more open to diesel than two or three years ago."
Other carmakers, including DaimlerChrysler (DCXGn.DE: Quote, Profile, Research) and Volkswagen (VOWG.DE: Quote, Profile, Research), already sell diesel cars in the U.S. market, where diesel has never been as popular as in Europe despite its fuel efficiency and durability.

No one from BMW was immediately available for comment.

Source: Reuters

 

[Michael]

Well if this is true, then this is good. I would love to own a diesel and I think it would be good because of their effeciency.

Whenever I hear diesel I always associate that word with dirty. Don't know why....

 

[Zafiro]

diesel cars arent what they used to be, much better and improved these days. very popular cars on german Autobahn.
I'm surprised they havent find their way into US earlier.

 

[bmwrules]

diesel cars arent what they used to be, much better and improved these days. very popular cars on german Autobahn.
I'm surprised they havent find their way into US earlier.

People remember the old dirty noisy diesels from the 70s and 80s so they shun the new smoother cleaner ones of today. Plus it has been harder for companies to meet the tougher diesel emission standards of the US. The current diesel cars aren't legal in all 50 states due to emission standards. The upcoming new emission standards are forcing some models out of the US, like all VW diesels. BMW has said that they won't put a diesel in the USA until they can sell it in all 50 states which sounds like is a couple years away.

Also people in the US haven't looked at the diesel as being necessary because gas in the US has been relatively cheap compared to the rest of the world. Now that is starting to change as oil prices continue to rise.

Bottom line is cheap gas plus people memory of old diesels is why people don't buy diesels in the USA.

 

[Michael]

I think that with time the American public may become fond of diesel's. They have to prove themselves first, and it shows that BMW seems to be more then willing to take up that challenge.

 

[Imhotep Evil]

In some countries in Europe, diesel fuel costs about the same as petrol.
But diesel engines provide ~25% better fuel economy.

 

[warot]

People remember the old dirty noisy diesels from the 70s and 80s so they shun the new smoother cleaner ones of today. Plus it has been harder for companies to meet the tougher diesel emission standards of the US. The current diesel cars aren't legal in all 50 states due to emission standards. The upcoming new emission standards are forcing some models out of the US, like all VW diesels. BMW has said that they won't put a diesel in the USA until they can sell it in all 50 states which sounds like is a couple years away.

Also people in the US haven't looked at the diesel as being necessary because gas in the US has been relatively cheap compared to the rest of the world. Now that is starting to change as oil prices continue to rise.

Bottom line is cheap gas plus people memory of old diesels is why people don't buy diesels in the USA.

It's not only about economy for me though. For example, if I had a choice between a 320i and a 320d, I would take the diesel in a heartbeat. That thing has got the same amount of torque as a 330i. It's faster than a 320i, so I don't know why you'd pick the petrol, when the price is similiar. I think my first car might be a diesel now that I think about it

 

[Carbon]

Here's a good link discussing the same things we are.

http://www.audiworld.com/news/06/jdn2/

 

[siko]

I hope to Canada as well!

 

[PanterroR]

I hope for you guys that you'll get diesels over there... You don't know what you're missing...

 

[Merc1]

If they manage to bring over that awesome 535d they'll absolutley clean up, that car on paper makes the rest of the 5-Series lineup (minus the M5) look pointless. I want to see Germans kick the snot out of these hybrids that don't ever live up to the MPG hype they cause.

M

 

[PanterroR]

If they manage to bring over that awesome 535d they'll absolutley clean up, that car on paper makes the rest of the 5-Series lineup (minus the M5) look pointless.

Absolutely no! They aren't pointless at all. The 535d costs a bit much, so you must have cheaper but very good models a.k.a. 525d, 530d, that aren't pointless for sure regardless of how good my car is...

I want to see Germans kick the snot out of these hybrids that don't ever live up to the MPG hype they cause.

M

I get you...

 

[Imhotep Evil]

I want to see Germans kick the snot out of these hybrids that don't ever live up to the MPG hype they cause.
M

Here, here

 

[wltsm]

It had to come someday, wonder when Audi will start selling diesels as well!

BTW, doesn't anyone know how sales of diesel MBs in America are doing?

 

[dOmInIX]

Cool, I think it's about time Americans start accepting diesel cars! My friend Tyc is right, they don't know what they're missing!

 

[bmwrules]

Here's Car and Driver's take on the 330d vs the 330i. Ultimately they like the 330i better than the 330d but they have lots of good things to say about the 330d, including 44% better fuel economy.

http://www.caranddriver.com/roadtests/11344/road-test-review-2006-bmw-330d.html

The last page of the story has some info for the issues facing diesels in the USA.

http://www.caranddriver.com/roadtests/11344/road-test-review-2006-bmw-330d-page5.html