Since the 1990s, diesel engines have seen a boom in Europe, with many passenger car buyers preferring them to their gasoline counterparts. However, ever since Volkswagen’s Dieselgate broke out in 2015, oil-burners have started to lose popularity; at their peak before the scandal, diesels accounted for roughly half of new car passenger sales.
They still make up a significant chunk of new car sales in Europe, though—19% (160,000 sales) in December 2021 across 18 western European countries, according to Berlin-based Schmidt Automotive Research.
That said, the diesel engine’s decline in Europe seems irreversible given that battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales overtook diesel-powered vehicle sales last month, reaching a market share of 21% (176,000 sales).
