Opel/Vauxhall CEO Karl-Thomas Neumann has told just-auto that the brands are planning to increase diesel mix in Europe, in spite of the uncertainties caused for diesel’s outlook due to the ramifications of VW’s so-called ‘dieselgate’ scandal and its wider fallout.
Neumann believes that combustion engines and diesels remain at the heart of the company’s strategy to meet tougher EU CO2 rules (95g/km average by 2021). “The majority of the improvement will come from combustion engines, so we have to build super-efficient gasoline and diesel engines. Diesel engines play a specific role; by the laws of physics they are more efficient, so there is a CO2 advantage and you need a diesel mix and actually our plan is to increase our diesel mix,” he said.
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Referring to dieselgate ramifications, Neumann acknowledged there are uncertainties ahead. “No-one knows exactly where this is going. There could be bumps in the road, but it is still important for the industry that diesel gains back its reputation and that we have confidence in diesel again because it would be crazy to give up the diesel technology opportunities and advantages that we have in Europe.”
Neumann also pointed out that segment shifts are important. “We don’t know exactly how things will move. If we sell way more SUVs than Astras and Corsas, that won’t help our CO2. In that case, we may need more electrification to compensate for that. And if we sell way less diesel models, then we need to compensate for that. So you need options and the Ampera-e [Chevrolet Bolt-based EV for Europe, planned for introduction in 2017] is one such option.”
Neumann is, however, hopeful that Opel/Vauxhall can reach the 2021 target without resort to massive investment in gasoline-electric hybrids (Audi, for example, showed its muscular Q7 e-tron in Geneva).
“We want to reach 95g/km with conventional powertrains and not with a big role for hybrids. You need them if you have a lot of large cars or SUVs, but it is an expensive way to go. For Opel/Vauxhall, we try to do efficient combustion engines. That’s also why we are not doing SUVs in all segments, but doing CUVs [crossovers] which are not so heavy, not all with 4WD, and are a little lower on CO2. I don’t believe that in 2021 we will all sit in large SUVs. It is impossible.”
See also: Full interview with Opel CEO Karl-Thomas Neumann
