Is Washington going to go after all the German manufacturers of diesel cars to protect its own misguided promotion of electric cars? From Eric Peters on a guest post at theburningplatform.com:
With VW shot full of holes and sinking fast over the diesel emissions “cheating” scandal, the heavy artillery has been retrained, azimuth and altitude calculated, the breech closed. The next salvo’s ready to fire.
At the three pointed star.
At its line of BlueTec diesel engines.
Which are alleged to be “cheating” Uncle’s emissions tests, the same accusation that’s rocked VW and which may, ultimately, end VW (via potential liabilities/fines in excess of $50 billion).
Automotive News reported the other day that “independent” testing discovered “evidence of a defeat device” that causes Mercedes’ diesel engines to emit larger-than-allowable levels (but not necessarily quantities; this is a critical point which I’ll get into shortly) of nitrogen oxides at low temperatures.
Uncle has “requested information” from DaimlerBenz. It is never good news when Uncle “requests information.”
Mercedes – for the present – denies having “cheated” Uncle. Which is like denying you successfully outmaneuvered street mugger.
My hope – if it turns out that Benz did “cheat” Uncle – is that it does not do what VW did and don the hair shirt. It hasn’t done much for VW; it won;t do much more for Mercedes. When fired upon, the right response is… fire back.
A rather odd (perhaps not proof-read) statement was issued by Daimler AG, parent company of Mercedes-Benz, also late last week: “A component that inadmissibly reduces emissions is not used in Mercedes-Benz vehicles.”
Italics added.
It’s still probably ok to sell a vehicle that eructs less rather than more of whatever it is Uncle objects to.
But perhaps it was a deliberate malaprop?
If the allegations are true, at least whoever wrote or signed that statement won’t be in peril of a perjury rap.
Either way, Benz is now the target as VW’s list continues to worsen.
Or rather, diesel engines – generally – appear to be the target.
Uncle seems determined to purge them from the marketplace. One wonders… why?
To continue reading: And Now Mercedes…
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