STUDY: Diesel sales still limited in U.S. by buyer perceptions [w/POLL]

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Trends, Hybrid, Sedan, Truck, Green

2009 BMW 335d - Click above for high-res gallery

Just the other day, Volkswagen revealed that it is having little trouble selling diesel versions of the Jetta here in the United States. Fellow German automakers like BMW and Mercedes-Benz, however, apparently aren't finding the oil-burning road quite so easy to traverse. A new study by PACE might have some answers as to why. It seems that only 35% of those surveyed are willing to consider today's latest clean diesel powerplants, and that figure is made up mostly of expensive luxury car and full-size pickup truck owners. Why? We'd say it's mostly a perception problem.

According to Bryan Krulikowski, the man who authored the PACE study, "While the perceptions of diesel have changed for the better, consideration of clean diesel vehicles is hampered by the high cost of diesel fuel compared to gasoline." Further, "some consumers recall diesels of the past and have not yet experienced or accepted the improved diesel technology available today," he said. As a final nail in the consumer consideration coffin, many new car buyers aren't yet convinced that exhaust aftertreatment systems that rely on urea will be a foolproof way to control emissions.

From where we sit, that's something of a shame. As we've found in our own tests of modern vehicles like the Jetta TDI and BMW 335d, the diesel engine has completely shed its old rough-idling, smoky and stinky ways in favor of smooth running, plateau-like torque curves and class-leading fuel efficiency.

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Gallery: Review: 2009 BMW 335d

[Source: The Detroit Bureau]

STUDY: Diesel sales still limited in U.S. by buyer perceptions [w/POLL] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Are fuel prices hurting acceptance of modern diesels?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Government/Legal, Green

click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

Diesel fuel prices are hovering about 20 above gasoline on average. It seems that automakers are a bit worried this disparity could have a negative impact on their upcoming diesel-powered cars and trucks. While it's true that Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz are already rolling out new oil-burners in all 50 states with positive results, there remains a concern that there are only so many buyers willing to spend extra to get a more efficient engine and then pay extra to fill it up. At a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on diesel fuel prices today, a spokesperson for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers fell short of suggesting what to do about the situation, choosing instead to highlight the fact that diesel fuel is taxed more than gasoline, whereas in Europe where oil-burners are much more popular, the opposite is true. Reading between the lines a bit, it's not hard to see his point.

Check out our recent In the Autoblog Garage review of the 2009 VW Jetta TDI to hear our take on today's modern diesels.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

Are fuel prices hurting acceptance of modern diesels? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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