A Society of Automotive Engineers executive management briefing is to debate the future of diesel-powered cars and light trucks in the US in Michigan next month.

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A panel will convene at Michigan State University’s Management Education Centre in Troy, Michigan, near Detroit, on May 28 to discuss and debate issues surrounding diesels in depth.

The management briefing entitled “Diesels and Their Future in the US” will consider the 20-30% fuel economy gains offered by diesel vehicles, and the fact that future government regulations and low fuel prices have combined to keep them nearly invisible in the US. to date.

Despite diesels’ popularity in Europe – one of every three cars sold here today is diesel-powered – the fact that modern diesel engines emit measurably less CO2 than petrol engines and Europe has embraced diesel technology as one of its preferred methods of cutting so-called “greenhouse gas” emissions, few models are even available in the US, and looming air quality regulations threaten to keep them out of the marketplace there, the SAE said in a statement.

The all-day meeting will feature a morning panel on technical and regulatory challenges to making diesels viable in the US and will be moderated by John McElroy of WWJ Newsradio and host of public television’s AutoLine Detroit show. Panelists include Patrick Charbonneau, Vice President of Engine Engineering, International Truck and Engine Corporation; John Sanderson, President and CEO, Siemens VDO Automotive; Graham Hoare, Director of Powertrain Research and Development, Ford Motor Company; and Jason Mark, Program Director, Clean Vehicles Programme and possibly the Union of Concerned Scientists.

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The afternoon panel will focus on the market drivers surrounding sales of diesel cars and light trucks in the huge US market. Jeff Gilbert, veteran WWJ Newsradio personality and host of Car Chronicles will moderate this session, whose members include Kenneth Moriarty, Executive Director, Corporate Strategy and Coordination, Volkswagen of America, Inc.; D. Duane Gilliam, Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC, (and Chairman, National Petrochemical & Refiners Association); John Moulton, President, Powertrain Division, Robert Bosch Corporation; and Walter S. McManus, Executive Director, Global Forecasting, JD Powers and Associates.

There will also be a breakfast keynote speech on regulatory implications by a representative of the United States’ Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and a luncheon keynote “State of the Diesel Industry Worldwide” from Jim Weidenbach, Manager, Small Powertrain Diesel, DaimlerChrysler Corporation.