3
U.S. market for diesel cars could grow
Jeep vehicles are offered for sale at Napleton's Chrysler dealership on December 1, 2011 in Chicago, Ill. A U.S. plant will bring in new workers to produce a diesel version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
To view this content, Javascript must be enabled and Adobe Flash Player must be installed.
Stacey Vanek Smith: Chrysler announced plans to add 1,100 new jobs at its assembly plant in Detroit. The new workers will build a diesel version of the Jeep Cherokee. It's the latest of many U.S. automaker moves to diesel.
From the Sustainability Desk, Eve Troeh reports.
Eve Troeh: Diesel engines all but disappeared from the U.S. car market in the 1980s. Diesels ran loud, and smelly, black smoke puffed from of their tailpipes. But they did get better gas mileage. And as Europe levied fuel taxes, diesel cars stuck around across the pond.
And got more popular, says Daniel O'Connell with investment firm Redmayne-Bentley.
Daniel O'Connell: So it's kind of seeped into the public consciousness that diesel's a far more economic car.
European automakers have cleaned up and quieted diesel engines, and boosted mileage even more.
Ray Wert edits the car blog Jalopnik.com. He says all the U.S. car companies are eyeing diesel as low-hanging fruit to meet new fuel efficiency laws. Developing new hybrid or electric technology would cost more.
Ray Wert: They're wagering that gas prices are going to increase, and therefore the opportunity to be able to get 50, 60 miles in a small car is going to more than make up for the perception issue that diesel engines face.
And make up for the extra upfront cost. Diesel engines are more expensive to make than gas-powered, and diesel currently costs more at the pump, too.
I'm Eve Troeh for Marketplace.
We have a few clients who were affected by this shady selling of cars affected by the Hurricane Sandy. They came to our shop looking for car parts and accessories in order to replace the spoiled ones. Most of them could not even track the shady seller and they have to bear the cost of repairing their already ‘damaged’ car. It is disappointing to see that people will take advantage of others in this situation.
@adk109 its very true. Unlike the US and other western countries, Indian customers don't have much fascination of electric cars. Honda civic hybrid and toyota prius bombed at the market selling less than 100 units. I believe US should help indian government to create necessary infrastructure for electric cars to cool down the soaring oil prices globally as well
http://www.vicky.in/shopping
Actually in US automobile industry could increased their manufacturing for Diesel cars, but since last few months electric cars are being more popular than the fuel cars. Recently when we visited to an auto show in India we found different situation there wherein people over there are not that much aware of electric cars.
http://newcars.indiandrives.com/
