Benz at the 2008 New York Auto Show 2008

Under the heading “Vote for BlueTEC”, Mercedes-Benz is continuing its diesel offensive in the U.S. with a vengeance. At the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS), the three-pointed star is presenting three new, exceptionally clean diesel SUVs with the latest AdBlue injection technology. The ML 320 BlueTEC, the R 320 BlueTEC and the GL 320 BlueTEC boast such low emissions that they comply with even the strictest exhaust limits such as the Bin 5 and ULEV standards in the U.S. They are also poised to fulfill the future EU6 standard in Europe. The focal point of today’s Mercedes-Benz NYIAS press conference was the facelifted M-Class, which celebrated its world premiere as the ML 320 BlueTEC.

“The BlueTEC campaign expresses our ambitious targets for the U.S. We want to make diesel driving popular here again – especially for SUVs,” comments Dr. Thomas Weber, Member of the Management Board Daimler AG, Group Research & Mercedes-Benz Cars Development.

“The prospects for this are now even better,” Weber continues, “because, just in time for the world premiere in New York, we have become the first manufacturer ever to receive certification enabling registration of Bin 5 and ULEV compliant diesel SUVs, thus qualifying them for registration in all 50 states.”

In preparation for the comeback of the clean diesel to the U.S., Mercedes has been conducting years of pioneering work. The decisive breakthrough came with the introduction of the E 320 BlueTEC in October 2006, which was voted “World Green Car of the Year 2007″ in the U.S., followed by the successful launch of Mercedes diesel SUVs with CDI technology in 45 states.