Exclusive: BMW's 2017 Diesel Lineup Delayed Over Fed Scrutiny
Volkswagen’s massive diesel scandal is affecting other automakers.
BMW has confirmed to AutoGuide.com that the automaker’s 2017 diesel lineup is being delayed due to extra scrutiny from federal agencies. “In light of recent events, agencies are taking longer to certify diesel models for the US,” said BMW spokesperson Hector Arellano-Belloc, “but there has been no indication that BMW’s diesel models do not meet all requisite emission standards or that there is a defeat device in the vehicle.”
SEE ALSO: After the VW Dust Settles, Are Diesels Dead? Here’s What BMW Thinks
It appears that as a result of Volkswagen cheating on diesel emissions tests, U.S. federal agencies are being extra careful to test and certify diesel vehicles. It is likely that BMW isn’t the only automaker impacted by this. Arellano-Belloc also revealed that the delay is caused by “testing logistics” and that production of the models will not begin until homologation has been finalized.
In the U.S., BMW offers diesel variants of its 3 Series, 5 Series, X3 and X5. Last year, diesels accounted for about six percent of the company’s total U.S. sales.
BMW has not indicated when it expects its diesel models to be available at dealers.
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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