Japanese Automakers Send More Diesels Europe-bound - USA Next?

SAN FRANCISCO Sept. 23, 2004; CBS Marketwatch reported that Toyota Motor Corp., Nissan, and Honda Motor plan to sharply increase sales of diesel-engine cars and trucks in Europe, according to a Friday published report.

The Japanese automakers are looking to increase their sales of diesel-engine vehicles to about 40 percent to 50 percent of overall car sales in the market by 2006, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun newspaper reported.

Diesel cars are expected to account for 55 percent of new car sales in the market by 2008, Nikkei reported.

Toyota is hoping to raise the proportion of diesel cars in its overall car sales in Europe from around 30 percent to 40 percent by 2006, according to Nikkei.

Toyota also plans to boost the number of diesel models among its Lexus brand luxury cars to more than half, Nikkei reported.

Nissan will increase its procurement of diesel engines from French parent Renault SA and offer the engines for its compact cars and Pathfinder sport utility vehicles to be launched in Europe this fiscal year, Nikkei reported.

Nissan is also planning to increase the share of diesel cars in its overall European auto sales to about 40 percent to 50 percent in two years, Nikkei reported

Honda is hoping to boost its diesel car sales from more than 30 percent of its auto sales, to 50 percent within two years, the Nikkei reported.

In spring, Honda plans to offer diesel models of its CR-V SUV and in the summer it will launch diesel models of its FR-V minivan, Nikkei reported.

This year Honda will offer a diesel version of its Accord model and plans to introduce a diesel engine in its Civic automobile, when the car undergoes a model change in 2006, Nikkei reported