What's Driving the Diesel Megatrend in Europe?

    LONDON, April 26 http://www.just-auto.com -- Diesel cars
are experiencing a meteoric growth in sales throughout Europe.  In 1973, only
2.5% of new car sales were diesel models.  By the end of 2001, this figure is
expected to reach 30-40%!
    So what factors have helped to transform public opinion of the cars once
regarded as noisy, dirty and slow?
    Government tax policy has greatly affected buying patterns.
'Eco-taxation' in particular favours diesel vehicles, which produce lower CO2,
HCs and NOX emissions.  Furthermore, excise duty has been consistently lower
for diesel road fuel than for petrol across Europe (except for the UK) since
the early 90s.
    Taxation issues aside, carmakers are now offering a wider range of diesel
models, and advances in diesel fuel injection technology have made some
diesels more desirable than equivalent petrol models.  What's more,
specification improvements mean that modern diesel cars are now just as well
equipped as their petrol competitors.  PSA, The Volkswagen Group and Ford will
all be increasing diesel installations in their models during 2001.
    So it may appear that nothing can halt the growth of the modern diesel car
with its competitive price, performance and equipment -- but petrol technology
is beginning to fight back.  And the introduction of direct injection petrol
engines to the mass market could certainly alter the landscape over the next
few years...
    The above extract is taken from a just-auto.com feature article, available
to site members only. Full just-auto.com membership is available at an annual
subscription fee of 50 British pounds sterling.  For further details, please
visit:  http://www.just-auto.com/youraccount/subscribe/full.asp

    just-auto.com is the premier online portal for automotive industry
professionals worldwide.  Targeted specifically at industry and business
professionals the site provides a single point of reference for independent
automotive industry information.