Porsche/VW Group U.S. Diesel Strategy Interview

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Porsche’s U.S. Diesel Strategy: An Interview with Wolfgang Hatz
by Jonathan Spira

Editor’s note: This is the third in a series of interviews with executives at automakers that offer diesel-powered automobiles in the United States.

Porsche is the most recent entrant to the U.S. diesel marketplace. Not too long ago, the idea of a Porsche SUV was somewhat heretical to purists as was a diesel Porsche. However, in order to be competitive in the European market, it became necessary to offer both, hence the Cayenne arrived in 2002, followed by the Cayenne Diesel in 2009. Last year, Porsche introduced the Cayenne Diesel to the United States, becoming the fifth automaker to offer a diesel powered automobile for sale in the U.S.

We sat down with Wolfgang Hatz, a member of Porsche AG Board of Management in charge of research and development, to find out what made Porsche take the diesel plunge and to better understand the future of diesel at Porsche...
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Thanks Jon! Nice to get some info on what is going on. For one, I have a hard time understanding why there is no Tiguan TDI here! The Amarok I sort of understand -- the chicken tax and all -- but the Tig -- that reasoning escapes me. At least Audi is bringing in the Q5 TDI and for that we should be greateful. BMW OTOH keeps dragging their feet on the X3 diesel and all we get are vague references to "sometime in MY 14".