German Automakers Form Coalition to Educate US on Diesel Tech

A whole slew of new diesel-powered cars have been announced for the U.S. recently, and to help them gain mainstream acceptance, six German automotive companies are teaming up to start the “Clean Diesel. Clearly Better,” campaign, which hopes to educate Americans on diesel technology.

Audi, BMW, Daimler, Porsche, Volkswagen and the supplier Bosch are all part of the coalition whose goal is to bring an accesible information platform to teach the U.S. population about the advantages of diesel.

To do this, a dedicated website has been launched called ClearlyBetterDiesel, which features illustrations and animations that help to explain clean diesel tech. The website claims that diesels are 18 percent more efficient than gas-powered cars and debunks common diesel myths like diesels being loud and smelling bad. The campaign was developed jointly with the German Association of the Automotive Industry.

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While diesel has been adopted very slowly in the U.S., it is on the rise. The fuel enjoyed a 127 percent increase in diesel car sales over the first nine months of the year, compared to the first nine months of 2009. New oil-burners on their way to our market include the Mazda6 diesel, Chevy Cruze diesel, Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel, and four new diesel-powered Audi models.

The campaign’s logo will be featured in advertisements, on banners, in TV spots, and in product brochures, and will “make its mark” at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show.

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