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Volkswagen has halted production of the Passat TDI at its Tennessee plant, because if you can’t sell ’em you may as well stop building ’em.
The stop-order comes as the automaker is ramping-up production of the new Passat in Chattanooga for sales set to begin later this month or in early December, according to Automotive News, and is yet another result of the ongoing diesel emissions scandal.
The Chattanooga plant continued production of Passat diesels after VW was caught cheating on emissions via software by the EPA in mid-September 2015, though said vehicles were left without a face in case changes were requested prior to shipping.
The automaker withdrew its certification for the 2016 2.0-liter diesels last month.
21 Comments on “Volkswagen Halts 2016 Passat Diesel Production in Tennessee...”
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The clean, sensible style of VWs is refreshing and classic. Too bad they screwed everything else up.
from the straightdope:
Before coming here, I don’t recall ever hearing the word ‘said’ being used as anything other than a verb. But here, for some reason, the word ‘said’ is frequently used as an adjective, indicating that you are referring back to something you said earlier-
“I went to the store to buy some groceries. While in SAID store, I bought SAID groceries. I took SAID groceries from SAID store out to my car. I then drove SAID car with SAID groceries from SAID store and … SAID … SAID … SAID …”
A suggested alternative:
Production of Passat diesels continued at the Chattanooga plant after VW was caught cheating on emissions by the EPA in mid-September 2015. The vehicles were left without a face in case changes were needed prior to shipping.
(And to get really pedantic, the “the” next to VW in the sentence is not needed, and the reference to “software” is confusing – did VW cheat via software or was their cheating detected via software?)
Oh my god, I have literally misplaced said style guide whilst failing to give said damn.
It’s really not that out of the ordinary….
Bumpy’s field of f&cks is barren. He has none to give.
So, bumpy, you’re like a grammatical disestablishmentarianist?
I’ve adopted a free range, no-till approach to f&¢k husbandry. Style guides have a place in statistical and technical reporting where uniformity is beneficial, but otherwise authorial voice should be free to find its own course for good or ill.
So much attention has been placed on the 11 million dirty TDIs out there, that the future production plans haven’t gotten much press.
VW has to turn a lot of knobs to get things right.
I wonder if VW will abandon diesels altogether, given their latest talk about EVs.
VW will likely drop the TDIs for the North America market, and might not have started (since ’07) if done legally, or sold very many.
@ SCE to AUX
Why would they abandon them? More diesels are being introduced into the NA market. It is proving their credibility much more important.
Globally Diesel is booming. Concern about EV’s , Hybrids do not sell well generally , look at the US market.
@Robert Ryan
“…Why would they abandon them?”
Because of emissions. Look for all 1st world markets to seek full diesel emissions, while ending diesel subsidies, followed by consumers realizing the incomprehensible simplicity and over all economy of regular old gasoline cars.
Pre emissions, it was the time to own a diesel auto.
Euro 6 (Sept, 2015 for diesels) will finally bring diesels up to 2010 US Tier 2. That’s if tested in a realistic, real-world manner.
The chapter on light duty diesel vehicles is slowing coming to an end. Outside of the US, globally too.
That is why they are introducing more diesels for light duty vehicles and Vans in the NA market.
Your correct. I can see them replacing more Gas engines too, Good call
What percent of the over all, light duty North American market? Went up from 6% to 7% in the last year? Which is it? How many were from *increased* VW TDI uptake, up to mid Sept?
So how long to you think the trend will continue??
There will remain a place of light duty diesels in North America, just a very small “place”.
But the walls are closing in, on diesels, as a viable alternative to good ol’ gas engines or hybrids. Starting 1st in the US, then Europe, Paris *ESPECIALLY*, then watch for lesser markets to follow the bigger markets as they move away from diesels.
Go ahead and thank emissions for that. Or just thank just VW for the lesson.
I know I may be late, but welcome back to TTAC
Thanks. I’m here when TTAC needs me, and when I have a feature for them.
Commissioner Stevenson has activated the Cam signal!
Da da da da da da da da da da da da da!
Camerooooooon!
Why the heck were they building them in the first place? It’s not like anyone will be lining up to buy one after the screw job the company did on its customers.
It is the least disruptive way to empty out the diesel-specific part supplier pipelines. Storing the completed cars for future remediation is also easier than having to warehouse excess piles of parts.
I guess it took seven weeks for the news to reach Tennessee…
VW is making some of the most attractive new vehicles around, and they will not look stupid in ten years like I suspect many current vehicles will. Too bad the company has such deep seated cultural problems and a long running disdain for any customer unlucky enough to have trouble with their vehicle.
@jthorner: Too bad the company has such deep seated cultural problems and a long running disdain for any customer unlucky enough to have trouble with their vehicle.
The German automakers are funny that way…