By Sam HaymartPublished: September 11, 2009Posted in: Trucks/SUVsTags: 2010, Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep, crd, Diesel, Dodge, Minivan
The new Fiat owned Chrysler Group LLC announced today that their Windsor Assembly Plant has begun production of diesel powered minivans only for international markets.
Called the Chrysler Grand Voyager in markets outside North America, the vehicle is sold in more than 80 countries. For those international markets, the Chrysler Grand Voyager is equipped a 2.8-liter common-rail diesel (CRD) engine, which accounts for approximately 90 per cent of sales in some European countries.
One has to wonder one more time why the company which has to give away their cars at a loss here in the States does not offer a model like this in America. While we are sure it is the same old thinking excuse that “Americans don’t like diesels”, it still rings.
Given the vehicle is already engineered, proven and in production the only physical barrier to selling it in the States is tuning it to meet our local emissions regulations. Given it already meets the tough new European laws, it is not that big a leap.
Imagine a day when you can buy a minivan that can get 30 mpg here in America. Imagine a day when Chrysler has products that will actually attract buyers to showrooms on their merits, not on the size of their rebates.
Related Posts
Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne has made a number of statements recently that signal that the company will begin offering a diesel option in some of their larger vehicles starting in ...
READ MORE
There is increasing chatter that Fiat influenced Chrysler is looking at offering a diesel engine in the ligher duty ½ ton Ram trucks. Reports have been surfacing in the last ...
READ MORE
There was news last fall presented by the new Chrysler that the US Jeep Wrangler would get a new four-cylinder diesel engine option for 2011. But unfortunately since then, our ...
READ MORE
Fiat is now in the driver’s seat at the new Chrysler and likely still wondering what the hell they got into. While the company may be “all new” again, the ...
READ MORE
More proof that American car companies just don’t get it comes this week as Chrysler announces a new diesel engine option for the Dodge Caliber. The Europe only engine is ...
READ MORE
Chrysler has announced officially today ahead of the Detroit Auto Show that it will build a diesel Jeep Grand Cherokee for 2013 for sale in the United States.
While no technical ...
READ MORE
There is nothing more fickle in the American car market than the product plans of automakers relative to diesel cars. The majority of American brands as well as Japanese brands ...
READ MORE
We've had this conversation before but it seems that Chrysler is now getting more solid on plans to offer diesel engines in some Jeep models. The soonest this would happen ...
READ MORE
The continued head in the sand denial or blissful ignorance of some automotive marketing executives regarding diesel powered vehicles for the United States is confounding. The same old refrains come ...
READ MORE
Ouch. The divorce of Daimler and Chrysler has taken an ugly tone since Fiat’s takeover of the American automaker this spring. There have been lawsuits over breaches in previous joint ...
READ MORE
Jeep, Chrysler Get Diesel Models For 2013 And
Chrysler Mulls Diesel Offering For 1/2 Ton Ram
Not For US: 2010 Jeep Wrangler Diesel
Advice To Fiat: Give Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep Some
2010 Dodge Caliber Diesel
Jeep Announces Grand Cherokee Diesel
Diesel Car Tide Finally Turning For America?
Jeep Might Finally Offer Diesels….In 3 Years
Chrysler Denies American Buyers 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Mercedes USA To Sell Diesel Sprinter Van
What Americans believe to be true about Europe is not always correct. When it comes to emissions standards, the U.S. has the toughest. The reason that engine doesn’t work in the U.S. is that it CAN’T meet our tough 2010 emissions. In today’s day and age, of course they would put it in the marketplace if it could be done. They need to revise the EGR system in the van as the Euro-folks haven’t gone after soot emissions the way the U.S. has. The Euro-folks went after the NOx emissions first. The engines in Europe emit less NOx gases, but dump soot all over town. The 2010 U.S. Emissions standards attach both pollution causing problems. Europe is years away from the U.S. high standard of diesel pollution emissions.
Ok,the US has the toughest standards bu that did not empeach VW to come up with a Clean TDI, and so is Audi and so is Mercedes…This clean diesel technology is no secret to all car manufacturers. So what the are North-American Distributors waiting for? Is is it that an expensive investment? This Chrysler model is being manufactured here in Canada with tax payers money (to save thousands or jobs), we should have the right to buy this model ….Most US and Canadian car manufacturers and distributors have been rescued by government or public funds, why in the world wouldn’t Canadian or US Governments force them to market models that reduce CO2 emissions…after all it’s not only about MPG but also our health and environment!!! It is our roll and duty as voters and consumers to put pressure on our representatives and suppliers about how we want to spend our money and the type of heakthy environment we wish for our children…Please pass this message on and on and on…
Thank you
I don’t understand how marketing geniuses at Honda, Toyota or Chrysler do not see priority in developing diesel minivan or hybrid minivan for the US market? As Mitchell pointed out these customers are more sensitive to fuel economy and protecting the environment. As a minivan owner, I echo that. If we weren’t we would own large SUVs. Diesel engines are also very appropriate for long continuous travel (like vacation trips) that vans are often used by families. Could it be that this market segment is no longer that big because your last true innovation (rear sliding door) was introduced 24 years ago?
Toyota and Honda are big on talking technical innovation but small on execution when it comes to minivans. Toyota talked hybrid and Honda diesel but results are still lacking. They are playing around with seats, sliding doors and adding more overpriced accessories. Their market strategy is to get more money for electronics and gimmicks, not achieve market differentiation with technological accomplishments. So, how are you going to attract me to your show room? What happened with creating compelling value proposition? Maybe you are, like Chrysler too busy laying off engineers and R&D folks, therefore unable to adapt diesel technology to US standards.