Feb. 26, 2018—Fiat Chrysler Automobiles will end diesel passenger car production by 2022, but not necessarily from trucks, according to a published report, according to USA Today.
The plan, reported Sunday in the Financial Times, follows a drop in consumer demand in Europe following the fallout from the Volkswagen emissions scandal, where the German company installed software able to cheat emissions tests on millions of vehicles, as well as heightened interest from regulators.
Fiat Chrysler, which does not currently sell any diesel cars in the U.S. or Canada, are popular in Europe and Asia because they are more fuel efficient than gas engines.
The revelation does not mean Fiat Chrysler will eliminate diesels from its entire lineup. The Italian-American automaker, which is incorporated in the Netherlands and has its U.S. headquarters in Auburn Hills, is expected to continue to offer diesel options in some SUVs and trucks in the U.S., including the Jeep Wrangler and Ram 1500 pickup.
Ford and General Motors also have diesels planned for their respective lineups, including the 2019 F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado.
However, the Fiat Chrysler plans highlight the continued collapse of what has been a key fuel source in Europe. Forbes, for instance, noted that diesel sales in Germany fell in January to 33.3 percent of the market from 45.1 percent during the same month a year ago.
