Audi has scrapped its plans to bring a diesel-powered A4 sedan to the U.S.
Speaking to , Audi of America president Scott Keogh confirmed the Audi A4 TDI will no longer be heading to the U.S. The decision wasn’t made because of the ongoing Volkswagen dieselgate scandal, but rather due to lower demand for diesel variants of Audi sedans, claims Keogh. “The marketplace speaks, we listen to the marketplace, and the marketplace told us, ‘Go with SUVs.’”
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The redesigned Audi A4 will star arriving dealerships next month and sales of new diesel vehicles from Volkswagen and Audi have remained idled since the Volkswagen Group is still waiting for certification from the EPA that its diesel engines conform to U.S. emissions regulations. Last fall, the German automaker withdrew its applications for EPA approval and is still working with the agency for approval before it can resume new diesel sales.
Audi says that through the first six months of last year, diesel models accounted for around six to eight percent of Audi’s A6, A7 and A8 sedans. On the other hand, diesels accounted for about 12 percent of Q5 crossover sales and almost 22 percent of Q7 sales.
“We will get the cars certified and we would have brought [the A4 diesel] if there was enough demand,” Keogh said. “Every decision is a blend of a lot of things but I think the predominant thing is there was not significant market demand for the TDI sedans we had in the marketplace, A3, A6, A7, A8.”
[Source: Automotive News]
