Do you think that "quite a resurgence" is a bit of an overstatement given that nearly every single (individual) auto manufacture sells as many cars in a single quarter as VW managed to sell during this entire CR era?
To put this in perspective, VW sold roughly half a million TDIs within the past decade. In January this year alone, the weakest month for auto sales, every major manufacture sold more than 100K with some hitting nearly 200K.
The market has spoken, has been speaking clearly for the past decade, that diesel passenger cars are unwanted by US customers for the most part. TDI sales are irrelevant to the US market except to the people who actively seek them out and nearly everyone who actively seeks them out only cares about the scandal in so far as they can profit from it. This scandal hasn't changed anyone's perspective except for a small portion of diesel buyers who appear to be angry with VW--but they went and bought a diesel elsewhere rather than concluding diesel was no longer a viable fuel.
I see what you're saying, but another way of looking at it is that the numbers of diesel passenger vehicles was increasing quite a lot largely thanks to VW. Bigger numbers than they had ever sold in before, which a good marketer would dub a "growth market."
And not having the diesel option most definitely hurt VW as it was more than 25% of their sales. And, had they been able to come to market with reasonably priced AWD wagons, trucks and SUVs with diesels, I think there could have been an even bigger resurgence in store.
Seems to be VW's constant issue, they never quite get it right in the U.S. market, or the timing is completely wrong.
But yes, I do concede that in the larger scheme of things, diesel is small potatoes in the U.S.. Although that does seem to come in handy should an unfortunate natural disaster or other run on local gas stations occur. Much less competition for the oily stuff coming out of the pumps!
At the end of the day, we diesel heads do put up with more maintenance headaches to have a vehicle we enjoy driving that also happens to return amazing fuel economy. Most Americans don't give two craps about driving experience and just want functionality and something they can neglect the maintenance on a little and get away with it.
But, that's where I do get frustrated. There may indeed be a day where battery electrics make more sense for the daily grind than any other individual vehicle. Cheaper to operate, virtually no maintenance outside of basic brakes, suspension and tires, big, instant torque, far fewer moving parts. But, there's always a few of us fringe weirdos who like driving long distance. Something with comfortable seats and good chassis which you can also go 600+ miles between fill ups.
No, it may not be cheaper than electricity (for the moment), but you will get to your destination faster just based on not needing to stop as frequently.
Makes sense in an enthusiast's head, who of course thinks of these things much more than the average motorist. But that's just it, we have individual freedoms to create or purchase products as we see fit. And anytime I see moves made to restrict that freedom, I have to question the motives. Who are you (figuratively speaking, not singling anyone out) to say what products best suit my personal needs and wants?