Come Back For Diesel Powered Passenger Cars

FIND Diesel Powered Cars

By Henny Hemmes
Senior European Editor
Amsterdam Bureau
The Auto Channel

AMSTERDAM, In 2009, there were some indications that after its record high of the year before, the popularity in Europe of diesel powered passenger cars was diminishing. But the first nine months of 2010 showed an increase of 5,5 per cent. From January through September sales of diesel cars rose from 4,654,900 to 5,063,700 units, up 5.5 per cent to 50.7 per cent of total sales.

After the cash-for-clunkers programs, that stimulated people to buy smaller and more fuel efficient cars, coming to an end during 2009, sales of larger diesel cars went back to normal. The turnaround was especially spectacular in Germany, with a share of 40.7 per cent, a growth of 11.1 per cent compared to the first nine months of 2009.

Belgium/Luxemburg are leading the European countries with 75 per cent diesel cars of total sales. In Norway, Spain and France the diesel accounts for more than 70 per cent, while in Portugal they have 65.4 per cent. In Sweden, Italy and the U.K. their share is over 40 per cent.

Automotive Industry Data predicts an ever bigger bounce-back this year. According to an AID study, that ranks as the most comprehensive statistical study on West Europe’s market dominating diesels, Europe’s diesel car share is expected to expand further between 2011 and 2015.

A lot can go wrong, though to influence the scenarios, especially with the rocketing diesel fuel prices and discriminating taxes, such as in The Netherlands, where owners of diesel cars have to pay twice as much road tax as those who drive a car with a gasoline engine. That is why the share of diesel cars is only per cent, one of the lowest in Western Europe.