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  • William Maley
    William Maley

    By William Maley •

    Mercedes-Benz USA CEO: We're Undecided on Diesel for U.S.

      Mercedes USA's CEO admits the future of diesel vehicles in the U.S. is unknown

    Mercedes-Benz is still waiting on the EPA to give the ok for them sell 2017 model year diesel vehicles. This is causing them to rethink their diesel strategy in the U.S.

    Speaking with reporters at the New York Auto Show this week, Mercedes-Benz USA CEO Dietmar Exler said engineers are still in talks with the EPA over their diesel vehicles. Exler admitted that he isn't aware of the current status of those talks. When asked about the future of diesel sales for the U.S., Exler said,

    "No decision made one way or the other."

    Before the EPA put all 2017 model year diesel vehicles under an intense review process, only 2 to 3 percent of Mercedes' total U.S. sales were made up of diesels.

    It should be noted that Mercedes-Benz has also canned plans on bringing over diesel version of the C-Class sedan last year.

    Exler said the focus going forward would be electric vehicles, with 10 new EVs being launch by 2025.

    Source: Reuters

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    smk4565

    Diesel isn't worth it for 3% of sales, especially when electric is the future.   Might as well just invest in the future, work on the 48 volt system and new inline engines and hybrids.

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    G. David Felt
    1 hour ago, smk4565 said:

    Diesel isn't worth it for 3% of sales, especially when electric is the future.   Might as well just invest in the future, work on the 48 volt system and new inline engines and hybrids.

    With Tesla's system being an 84V to 265V system depending on the charger used to recharge the auto. One has to wonder why only 48 volt system for MB especially when Porsche is going with an 800V system in the Mission E?

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    smk4565
    6 hours ago, dfelt said:

    With Tesla's system being an 84V to 265V system depending on the charger used to recharge the auto. One has to wonder why only 48 volt system for MB especially when Porsche is going with an 800V system in the Mission E?

    Because 48 volt is for gas engines, replacing the 12 volt system that ever other car has.

    And they have other plans for Tesla.

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    G. David Felt
    5 minutes ago, smk4565 said:

    Because 48 volt is for gas engines, replacing the 12 volt system that ever other car has.

    And they have other plans for Tesla.

    So you are saying MB is going to move all ICE to 48 volt systems too?

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    smk4565
    1 hour ago, dfelt said:

    So you are saying MB is going to move all ICE to 48 volt systems too?

    Yes, inline 4, inline 6, V8 gas, and inline 4 diesel which looks like it won't make it here.  Four engines, all with 48 volt system.  Which will clean up the number of engine offerings and get fuel economy up about 15% across the board.

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    regfootball

    a friend recently bought a titan diesel and took it back the next day.

    some of these states like mine mandating certain percent of biodiesel (i.e. government mandated spiked fuel).  Friend's Titan specfically mentioned warranty is void if too great percent of biodiesel.  Some of these other Euro diesels have limits as well.  My guess is with the stupidity of select states creating warranty hazards for potential new buyers, why would you even try to bring any more over on expensive rigs like this.>?

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    G. David Felt
    12 hours ago, smk4565 said:

    Yes, inline 4, inline 6, V8 gas, and inline 4 diesel which looks like it won't make it here.  Four engines, all with 48 volt system.  Which will clean up the number of engine offerings and get fuel economy up about 15% across the board.

    I really have to question the sound decision on this. They might as well just keep improving their ICE line as is and build their EV line on a far superior electrical system.

    Having slept on this, from an engineering standpoint I get it that they would have a single electrical harness for the auto. Yet this also means they are going to spend a fortune on R&D to do this, they will also now have issues with mechanics who mix up the existing 12v line with their newer 48v line and I can see all kinds of mistakes being made by the mechanics.

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    smk4565

    Every car maker will go to 48 volt eventually because they will need the gains to hit CAFE.  They will have to do it to get over that 50 mpg number, gas engines alone will never do it and the EV take rate is too slow to pull the average up fast enough.

    Mercedes spends over $1 million per hour on R&D.  It is costing a fortune but if they are ahead of the game in 2020 it will pay off.

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    G. David Felt
    3 minutes ago, smk4565 said:

    Every car maker will go to 48 volt eventually because they will need the gains to hit CAFE.  They will have to do it to get over that 50 mpg number, gas engines alone will never do it and the EV take rate is too slow to pull the average up fast enough.

    Mercedes spends over $1 million per hour on R&D.  It is costing a fortune but if they are ahead of the game in 2020 it will pay off.

    So you're saying they will be Hybrids then based on what I am reading. That makes sense, but then we have seen plenty of 12v Hybrids that are over 50 mpg.

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    smk4565

    Basically all of Mercedes gas cars will be light hybrids with a 15 or 20 hp electric motor and no more alternator or tradional starter motor.  I am not sure how it is all going to work but the 2018 S-class is supposed to be the first car with it.

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    smk4565
    20 hours ago, balthazar said:

    If MB would really devote themselves to a singular engine vision, they could bring out an I8- it would be as smooth as an EV.

    Not sure that would fit under the hood of an E-class or AMG GT.

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