Diesel cars once dominated the European market. In 2010, they accounted for over 50% of new vehicle sales in Europe.
But in 2017, gasoline cars surpassed diesel car sales for the first time since 2009. Now, diesel cars face another strong competitor: plug-in hybrids.
According to Motor 1, in 2021, self-charging hybrids surpassed diesel vehicle sales in Europe for the first time. By 2025, the decline of the diesel engine continues. With plug-in hybrids, diesel cars have fallen off the podium to fourth place.
This year alone, plug-in hybrid vehicles held a market share of 9.4% during the first ten months. By October, diesel vehicles accounted for only 8% of total new car sales across the 27 European Union countries.
But how did this happen? This shift did not occur overnight. First, strict emissions regulations have pushed automakers toward hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and electric vehicles.
Second, many European Union countries have begun offering substantial incentives for zero-emission vehicles, encouraging drivers to choose hybrids and fully electric vehicles when making a purchase.
Additionally, greener cars often benefit from lower taxes, which further undermines the diesel engine, reinforced by improvements in gasoline engines, which have become increasingly efficient.
Finally, the EU’s ongoing effort to reduce fleet emissions, culminating in the ban on new internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035, has further affected diesel vehicle sales.
Today, hybrids hold a market share of 34.7%, comfortably ahead of gasoline cars (26.9%) and electric vehicles (18.3%).
Over the years, this trend is likely to grow even more, driven by the influx of affordable Chinese imports and new offerings from traditional automakers.
Photo: BMW. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
