Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason
Updated 8/3/16
via Automotive News:
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said on Tuesday it has approved the sale of new 2017 model year BMW AG diesel vehicles in the United States after a thorough review.
Chris Grundler, head of the EPA's Office of Transportation and Air Quality, told reporters on the sidelines of an automotive conference the agency granted certification to BMW on Friday. BMW had said last month that U.S. product certification of all 2017 BMW diesel models has been delayed due to testing logistics.
"We tested the vehicles every which way from Sunday," Grundler said. "We asked for more data from the company."
In September, the EPA said it would review all U.S. diesel vehicles following an admission from Volkswagen AG that it installed software in cars allowing them to emit up to 40 times legally permissible level of pollution.
Grundler said the agency has not yet approved sale of Daimler AG's 2017 diesel Mercedes-Benz vehicles. "Discussions continue," Grundler said, declining to elaborate on why EPA has not approved certifications for the Mercedes vehicles.
In April, Daimer disclosed the U.S. Justice Department had asked the carmaker to investigate its emissions certification process for vehicles including its Mercedes brand.
Last month, Daimler said EPA and the California Air Resources Board were also conducting inquiries. Daimler said in its earnings release that it could face "delays in obtaining regulatory approvals necessary to introduce new diesel models, which could cause significant collateral damage including reputational harm."
BMW said about 4 percent of U.S. sales last year were diesel models.
VW still hasn't received approval to sell 2016 diesel vehicles in the U.S. and hasn't asked the EPA for permission to sell 2017 diesel models, Grundler said.
Original post: 7/20/16
Via Autonews:
The EPA’s crackdown on diesels has delayed the certification and sale of four BMW models.
BMW confirmed it is still awaiting production certification of all 2017 diesels and would not say now long this would take.
“In light of recent events, agencies are taking longer to certify diesel models for the U.S., 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,” BMW said in a statement.
The affected 2017 models are the 328d sedan, the 328d Sports Wagon, and the X3 xDrive28d and X5 xDrive35d crossovers. A spokesman said production will begin “once homologation has been finalized.”
The EPA would not specifically confirm delaying BMW’s models. But the agency did confirm in an email: “It is true that diesel vehicles are getting extra scrutiny and that has extended the certification process longer than normal. In general, manufacturers have been supportive of this additional testing and have adjusted their timing to account for the additional test duration.”
Regulators are subjecting diesels to additional testing because of the ongoing scandal over Volkswagen diesels. VW admitted last fall that it rigged some 11 million diesel-powered vehicles worldwide with defeat device software that turns emissions controls on only when the vehicle senses it’s being tested. In regular driving, the systems turn off, which boosts engine performance and fuel economy but permits up to 40 times the legal limit of pollution.
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Updated (Autoblog):
http://www.autoblog.com/2017/01/17/2...-sales-update/
BMW is about to start building model year 2017 diesel cars for the US
In what may be a "damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead" moment, BMW is starting to produce model year 2017 diesel-powered vehicles earmarked for the US. Oil-burning variants of BMW's 3 Series sedan and wagon as well as diesel versions of its X3 and X5 SUVs may soon hit these shores. Zimmer spokeswoman Rebecca Kiehne confirmed to Autoblog that diesel models such as the 328d Sedan, 328d Sports Wagon, X3 xDrive28d, and X5 xDrive35d will start production "shortly." Green Car Reports previously reported on the production plans.
Last July the EPA said it would delay BMW diesel sales in the US because US regulators were taking longer than expected to certify the vehicles. BMW confirmed to Autoblog at the time that certification for the 2017 model year 328d Sedan, 328d Sports Wagon, X3 xDrive28d, and X5 xDrive35d had been held off.
By sending diesel vehicles to the US, Bimmer would be jumping back into the domestic diesel market as Volkswagen continues to sort out the mess caused by its diesel-emissions scandal, in which the automaker was found to have installed software that programs the cars to emit artificially low amounts of emissions while they're being tested. Last week, the VW board approved a $4.3 billion settlement with US authorities as part of a civil and criminal probe. Both VW and Audi haven't sold diesel vehicles in the US since late 2015.
In 2015, BMW diesels accounted for just 4 percent of the cars the German automaker sold in the US. By comparison, diesel-powered vehicles accounted for about 25 percent of Volkswagen's US sales before its diesel-emissions scandal broke in September 2015.