Volkswagen has been storing the diesel-powered vehicles it bought back from customers at 37 secure storage facilities that include a suburban Detroit football stadium, former Minnesota paper mill, and desert parking lot near Victorville, Calif., Reuters is reporting.
Volkswagen has bought back or repaired more than half of the 475,000 vehicles with 2.0-liter diesel engines that failed to meet emissions standards as part of a federal settlement about six months after it began the program.
GM’s redesigned Duramax 6.6L turbo-diesel offers a number of advantages to fleets including increased horsepower and torque, and fleets are showing interest in the new engine, which will be available in the 2017 Chevrolet Silverado HD.
Diesel-powered pickup trucks sell for more than 30% of their gasoline counterparts after three years of fleet usage and return greater value with higher odometer readings, according to data from ADESA.