Europe’s diesel vehicle sales continue the counter-intuitive trend of strength this year as the move to plug-in electrification has slowed in part because of a diminished focus on tougher CO2 targets. Another factor: diesel popularity is also due to price increases starting to negatively affect BEV buyers in particular, the respected LMC Automotive consultancy said today.
The latest diesel sales information comes at a time when 27 automakers are lobbying the EU to ban the sale of all, yes all, internal combustion vehicles by 2035 and replace them with zero emissions vehicles – aka electric – if the Global Warming goals of net zero emissions are to be met by 2050 to avoid the worst impacts of planet- and people-killing climate change.
Click to Enlarge.
“With just two minor markets missing from April’s data at the time of writing, it looks like diesel share of new car sales (including hybrids) came in at 19.5% in April while the YoY decline at just 4.2% was the smallest for a year, although the value of year-on-year comparisons is questionable in these times of disrupted vehicle manufacturing,” said LMC.
“Several OEMs have made the point recently that combustion engines (including diesel) will continue to have a part to play in the region’s future powertrain mix with the likely looming shortage of battery materials for BEVs bringing this into sharp focus,” said LMC.
April diesel sales volume was 144,000, a 78,000 decrease from the same month in 2021. This is likely the result of the ongoing crisis on the production side of the industry. To-date, 630,000 diesel cars have been sold in western Europe which is 300,000 fewer than were sold in the first four months of 2021. “Parts shortages continue to impact on all segments of the industry,” said LMC.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Europe’s Diesel Car Problem – 20% of the Market!
Europe’s diesel vehicle sales continue the counter-intuitive trend of strength this year as the move to plug-in electrification has slowed in part because of a diminished focus on tougher CO2 targets. Another factor: diesel popularity is also due to price increases starting to negatively affect BEV buyers in particular, the respected LMC Automotive consultancy said today.
The latest diesel sales information comes at a time when 27 automakers are lobbying the EU to ban the sale of all, yes all, internal combustion vehicles by 2035 and replace them with zero emissions vehicles – aka electric – if the Global Warming goals of net zero emissions are to be met by 2050 to avoid the worst impacts of planet- and people-killing climate change.
Click to Enlarge.
“With just two minor markets missing from April’s data at the time of writing, it looks like diesel share of new car sales (including hybrids) came in at 19.5% in April while the YoY decline at just 4.2% was the smallest for a year, although the value of year-on-year comparisons is questionable in these times of disrupted vehicle manufacturing,” said LMC.
“Several OEMs have made the point recently that combustion engines (including diesel) will continue to have a part to play in the region’s future powertrain mix with the likely looming shortage of battery materials for BEVs bringing this into sharp focus,” said LMC.
April diesel sales volume was 144,000, a 78,000 decrease from the same month in 2021. This is likely the result of the ongoing crisis on the production side of the industry. To-date, 630,000 diesel cars have been sold in western Europe which is 300,000 fewer than were sold in the first four months of 2021. “Parts shortages continue to impact on all segments of the industry,” said LMC.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.