Governments clamping down on diesel have led to a new campaign from vehicle makers opposing the changes in Europe.
“The European industry has invested massive amounts of money to make [cleaner] Euro 6 diesels a reality. Now we start hearing calls to reduce or phase out diesel. This is unrealistic. This industry needs a longer-term strategy,” Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn, told Automotive News Europe.
Diesel-powered vehicles – which accounted for just over half of all new-car sales in Europe last year – are popular because fuel consumption is roughly 15 percent to 20 percent better than equivalent gasoline powertrains. In addition, the fuel is less expensive in many European countries because it is less taxed. That is about to change as France will gradually align taxes on diesel and gasoline to encourage people to give up their diesel-powered vehicles.
