Volvo could be set to end development of diesel engine technology for its cars.
As the environmental and political climate turns increasingly against diesel, Volvo CEO Hakan Samuelsson has told German media that the brand’s current generation of diesel engines, introduced in 2013, could well be the last.
Samuelsson quotes the cost of making diesel engines more emissions friendly, particularly reducing their nitrogen oxide levels, as the reason for abandoning the technology.
He told German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, “From today’s perspective, we will not develop any more new-generation diesel engines.”
Diesel has ‘crucial role’
However following the article appearing, Volvo issued a statement to the Reuters news agency in which Samuelsson states that he believes diesel will still play a crucial role in reducing emissions over the next few years. As the brand has only recently launched a new generation of petrol and diesel engines (the Drive-e range) a decision on developing new diesel engines is not required.
Samuelsson says in the newspaper interview that the current diesel engine line-up will continue to be improved and this could go on until around 2023. Future investment, however, will be focused on hybrid and electric cars.
