BMW CEO Harald Krüger believes that state-of-the-art diesels will play an important role in future mobility.

Despite a series of scandals that have tarnished the image of diesel engines, cost manufacturers billions in fines penalties and recalls and now threaten to drag them in a wider legal morass, BMW’s top executive is insisting diesel engines can have a significant role in the industry’s future.

State-of-the art diesels will definitely play an important role in future mobility, said BMW CEO Harald Krüger.

“Modern efficient diesel engines ensure lower CO2 emissions. On average, BMW Group diesel vehicles emit 40% less NOX than the German average, as reported by the Germany Federal Environment agency in April 2017. This is also true for both our Euro 5 and Euro 6 vehicles,” he said.

The ability of diesels to meet future emission standards have been compromised during the past two years by a series of scandals in which manufacturers have been accused of using “defeat” software to cheat on official emission tests required for certification.

(German authorities investigating collusion among automakers. For more, Click Here.)

The scandals started with Volkswagen, but the tests used by other manufacturers including Fiat Chrysler, General Motors and Daimler AG also have been challenged.

Nevertheless, Krüger said BMW was prepared to grant vehicle owners across the EU an environmental bonus of up to 2,000 euros, depending on the model.

This applies to owners of diesel vehicles that meet Euro 4 standards or less, when they trade in their vehicle and purchase a new BMW or Mini. The replacement must be either a BMW i3, a plug-in hybrid or a Euro 6-standard vehicle with CO2 emissions of up to 130 grams per kilometer.

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In addition, BMW is offering an optimization of the exhaust-treatment system for 225,000 of the Euro 5 models currently on the road in Germany, at no cost to buyers. “We are driving the transition to sustainable mobility as hard and fast as possible,” he said.

“BMW Group vehicles are not rigged for testing purposes. This has been confirmed by the results of relevant official investigations at the national and international level. And our customers can continue to rely on this.

“The BMW Group initiated the change to sustainable mobility at an early stage. Currently we have more than 150,000 electrified vehicles on the road.”

(BMW goes outside auto industry for marketing boss. Click Here for the story.)

Krüger, however, said it’s also clear that sustainable mobility requires cooperation within the auto industry and with partners from other areas.