Subaru didn’t plan on introducing diesel-powered models to the U.S. market until at least 2012, but that schedule could be moving up in the wake of President Obama’s recently announced fuel economy standards. That push to 35.5 mpg by 2016 could also be moving up Subaru’s hybrid vehicle plans.
Subaru was set to launch its first U.S. diesel in 2012, but that date could be moved up to 2011, according to Bloomberg. Subaru will likely fast track its first wave of U.S. clean diesel to comply with the President’s newly minted CAFE regulations.
Moreover, Subaru ’s first hybrid could hit the U.S. market at about the same time as the company’s diesels. Ikuo Mori, president of Subaru parent company Fuji Heavy Industries , told Bloomber the Japanese automaker “hopes to introduce a hybrid around the same time” its first U.S.-spec diesel cars hit the market.
That is a bit of a change from the company’s stance just a few months ago. In late 2007, Mori told Automotive News “the voices calling for diesels are stronger than the voices for hybrids.” However, last summer’s gas spike and looming CAFE regulations are likely behind the change in stance.
