

Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s group vice president for global product development
Diesels just aren't the answer for Americans says Kuzak






  • Diesel engines are more expensive than their gasoline counterparts
  • Americans in general are apprehensive to diesel-powered cars
  • Diesel fuel remains more expensive than gasoline




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RE: I'd say he is wrong - very wrong.
By Spuke on 3/11/2011 1:53:52 PM , Rating: 2
It's a niche here in the US regardless of the reason otherwise VW diesels would be flying off the lots. Hybrids are more popular here. My reasoning is the price at the pump more than anything. We're very sensitive to gas prices here. People were dumping their SUV's/trucks/cars a few years ago just to get a more fuel efficient car regardless of the fact that a new car plus huge negative equity from the "old" one cost more money than just simply paying more for the gas. My wife got caught up in all of that until I showed her on paper than even though we would increase mpg by 10, overall costs would increase by $300 a month. I told her to simply cut the price difference from somewhere else. She drank a lot of Starbuck's back then so she cut back on that. Problem solved!

Diesel costs more than premium gas here in most places and people see that, the extra cost of the diesel option, do a quick calculation and bam! More money. Even though hybrids cost more, the fuel doesn't plus the mileage is better than diesel so they see that as acceptable (EPA ratings, don't care about your experiences).

RE: I'd say he is wrong - very wrong.
Hybrids are more popular here.

Sigh. I really hate this very common misunderstanding.

Outside the Toyota Prius, Hybrids are not popular here.



Sales in 2011

Prius - 24,174
Jetta TDI - 6,342 (Excludes Golf, but includes SportWagen)
Insight - 3,276
Fusion - 2,348
CRZ - 1,985











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