Photo: Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz has yet to launch the diesel version of the new C-Class on the U.S. market, and it appears that it has been delayed again.
According to reports, the German automaker will wait up to a year to launch the C300d, one of the diesel versions of the C-Class sedan. Initially, it was supposed to be launched in the first quarter of 2016, but since we are writing this article, you can deduct the fact that the event did not happen.
Along with the Mercedes-Benz C300d, the German brand was supposed to launch the equivalent variant of the GLC, but it has also been eliminated from this year's launch schedule.
Automotive News looked into the launch calendar presented last year by Mercedes-Benz for 2016, and then contacted brand representatives. According to Rob Moran, a Mercedes-Benz spokesperson, the latest plan is to launch the two variants sometime in 2017, and the middle of the year is a reasonable estimate for the release date, but not set firmly on the calendar.
In the case of the diesel variants of both C-Class Sedan and GLC, the German automaker has not set firm market release dates for the US market. The situation might be linked to the negative attention received by diesel engines because of Volkswagen's Dieselgate scandal, which has already led to significant delays in the homologation process of diesel cars in the USA.
Mercedes-Benz's main competitor, BMW, has already experienced delays in the approval procedure of some of its diesel-engined models in the USA.
The three-pointed star from Germany might have delayed the launch of its diesel-engined models because of these potential delays, as well as the fact that the lack of popularity of diesel engines in the USA might lead to poor sales results. Diesel models only provide 1.2% of Mercedes-Benz sales in the USA, said Dietmar Exler, CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA.
In the case of the second concern, Mercedes-Benz might be better off not launching an engine variant that is projected to achieve low sales volumes and not even provide an image capital, as do AMG variants deliver.
Along with the Mercedes-Benz C300d, the German brand was supposed to launch the equivalent variant of the GLC, but it has also been eliminated from this year's launch schedule.
Automotive News looked into the launch calendar presented last year by Mercedes-Benz for 2016, and then contacted brand representatives. According to Rob Moran, a Mercedes-Benz spokesperson, the latest plan is to launch the two variants sometime in 2017, and the middle of the year is a reasonable estimate for the release date, but not set firmly on the calendar.
In the case of the diesel variants of both C-Class Sedan and GLC, the German automaker has not set firm market release dates for the US market. The situation might be linked to the negative attention received by diesel engines because of Volkswagen's Dieselgate scandal, which has already led to significant delays in the homologation process of diesel cars in the USA.
Mercedes-Benz's main competitor, BMW, has already experienced delays in the approval procedure of some of its diesel-engined models in the USA.
The three-pointed star from Germany might have delayed the launch of its diesel-engined models because of these potential delays, as well as the fact that the lack of popularity of diesel engines in the USA might lead to poor sales results. Diesel models only provide 1.2% of Mercedes-Benz sales in the USA, said Dietmar Exler, CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA.
In the case of the second concern, Mercedes-Benz might be better off not launching an engine variant that is projected to achieve low sales volumes and not even provide an image capital, as do AMG variants deliver.
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