Toyota wants to drop diesel models; VW thinks diesel is due for a rebound
Geneva — Toyota Motor announced plans to drop diesel models from its European portfolio this year even as Volkswagen (VW), which sparked the fury over the technology, predicts a rebound. The diverging views of the world’s two largest vehicle makers reflect the uncertainty over the future of diesel, which has faced a steady drumbeat of bad news since VW’s cheating scandal erupted in September 2015. The German automotive giant is expecting consumers to forgive and forget soon, as cleaner diesels hit the streets. "Diesel will see a renaissance in the not-too-distant future because people who drove diesels will realise that it was a very comfortable drive concept," CEO Matthias Müller said at the Geneva International Motor Show. "Once the knowledge that diesels are eco-friendly firms up in people’s minds, then, for me, there’s no reason not to buy one." The comments are bold considering VW put aside about $30bn in provisions to cover fines, retrofits and legal costs stemming from riggin...
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