The low-sulphur diesel is the first requirement for US sales, but it may not be enough. It is basically here now, it has been phased in during 2006.
The emissions regulations tighten up in 2007, since the low-sulphur diesel allows the manufacturers to design and build cleaner engines. The problem isn't the emissions standards per se, but rather the ability of the diesel engine vehicle to meet those standards after 100,000 miles. It is a huge liability for manufacturers that fail those tests.
You can add all sorts of scrubbers, catalysts, etc, to a diesel engine, but most of them require maintenance. They just aren't as durable as the engine itself. Because the emissions equipment could fail, over the long term, manufacturers are hesitant to take the financial risk. Simply put, they don't need to take that risk. All the manufacturers are watching each other, and until several of them get high volume sales of diesel vehicles, taking sales away from a manufacturer, there isn't much incentive to produce a diesel vehicle. The best position to be in for a manufacturer is to have an engine available (in case they need to certify it and compete) but not to sell it in the US.
BMW do have a technology using urea injection that works (if you don't mind adding processed cow urine to a separate reservoir when you fill up your tank), but the EPA isn't confident that owners will keep using the system, and if they don't, the vehicle fails the emissions test. BMW was even reported to have met with fuel companies in the New York area to establish a pilot distribution system for the additive.
We will see more direct injection technology in gasoline engines, IMO, to get some of the diesel efficiency gains while not risking emissions fines.
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