Volkswagen Cheating Scandal Now Hurting European Diesel Sales

European buyers appear to be losing their love of diesels in the wake of the Volkswagen Group emissions scandal.

Sales of diesel cars have accounted for more than 50 percent of the region's new-car market in recent years. EU governments have promoted the powertrain with incentives and low diesel fuel prices to help reduce emissions of CO2, a gas blamed for climate change. Diesels are more fuel efficient than gasoline cars so emit less CO2.

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TheSteve - 5/27/2016 10:54:27 AM

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Subject: "Volkswagen Cheating Scandal Now Hurting European Diesel Sales"

Linked Article's Title: "European buyers shun diesels after VW emissions scandal"

Article: "European buyers appear to be losing their love of diesels..."

Pertinent fact: "Diesel's share declined by... 3.1 percent to 49.7%"

That's right; all the hubbub is about the European diesel market share dropping from an all-time high of 52.8% before Dieselgate, to a "mere" 49.7% in April 2016, seven months into Dieselgate, and how some people feel this constitutes "shunning" diesel, or consumers "losing their love" for diesel.

I'd call it a "mild decline", and "surprisingly small in light of Dieselgate." I'd also call the reporting of this in this way "alarmist," "sensationalized" and "inaccurate."

PUGPROUD - 5/27/2016 3:21:57 PM

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While I hear you Steve the change in sales amounts to a 5.9% decline. Multiply 5.9% times 12.6 million vehicles sold in the EU in 2015 and you get 743,400 less sales. Three quarters of a million vehicles is quite a few.