BMW finally gets go-ahead to sell 2017 diesel models
Dieselgate's done a great job at slowing down the regulatory processes required to sell diesel vehicles in the US.
While diesels don't make up a large portion of BMW's sales, it must be a bummer for the small number of buyers that really do want a diesel Bimmer.
When the EPA announced that it would place extra scrutiny on approving new vehicles in the wake of Volkswagen's diesel debacle, it was assumed that there'd be a number of delays. After an incredibly lengthy review process, BMW finally got approval to sell its 2017 diesel vehicles in the US.
The Environmental Protection Agency approved BMW's 2017 diesels for sale on Friday, an EPA representative told Reuters. "We tested the vehicles every which way from Sunday," said Chris Grundler, who runs the EPA's Office of Transportation and Air Quality. Diesels represent about four percent of BMW's US sales.
While BMW received approval, Daimler is still waiting on the go-ahead to sell its MY2017 Mercedes-Benz diesel models. I reported earlier this week that the C-Class diesel is delayed, likely until 2017, because of this new scrutiny on diesel approvals. Thankfully, similar to BMW, diesels don't comprise a large portion of the brand's US sales.
Nevertheless, it's likely that we'll see delays of this ilk continue for the foreseeable future. Volkswagen really screwed the regulatory pooch when it admitted to willfully deceiving the feds by installing software meant to curtail emissions in lab tests. That ace move will cost the company about $15 billion in the US alone.