Last September, during the Paris Auto Show, Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess told reporters that the German automaker was not giving up on diesel tech, in spite of the Dieselgate and could continue to offer such models in the US.
It seems this is no longer the case, as Reuters reports that Diess only yesterday confirmed diesel-powered cars will not be making a return after all, since the company has restructured its global business plan.
This comes one week after Volkswagen Group of America CEO, Hinrich Woebcken, said that he didn’t think diesels, which at some point made up for nearly a quarter of its total sales, would make a comeback, either.
“Emissions standards in following years are getting tougher and tougher,” Woebcken said. “Why don’t you put the money and investments to comply with these standards, why don’t you put the money on the spot where the future is?” he asked, speaking of VW’s new focus on rolling out a host of electric vehicles.
The cheating emissions device that was installed in the 2.0-liter TDI cost VW dearly; in the US alone, it reached a $14.7 billion settlement with nearly half a million owners and the Californian legislators after admitting to this illegal practice.
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