Volvo had the greatest share of diesel fueled passenger cars in Europe in 2019. Despite reducing its share of diesel cars in the past few years, 58 percent of new Volvo cars on European roads were fitted with a diesel engine in 2019. This was followed by three German companies, Mercedes, BMW and Audi. No brand listed has seen its share of diesel cars increase in this period.
Diesel and its implications
Due to its higher thermodynamic efficiency, diesel surpassed gasoline as the most common fuel type for larger vehicles and has been increasingly used for passenger cars in the medium size range. In recent years, controversy surrounding the higher than advertised emission of nitrogen oxides as found out in the ICCT study leading to “Dieselgate”, has significantly dimmed the fuels popularity. This led to the decline in market share as seen in this statistic.
Where diesel cars are most popular
Of European countries, Ireland recorded the greatest share of new diesel cars. In 2010, 46 percent of all new passenger cars bought were run by a diesel motor. In comparison, the EU-28 average was 32 percent.
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Percentage share of new passenger cars in Europe* with diesel engines in 2015 and 2019, by brand
Characteristic
2015
2019
Volvo
88%
58%
Mercedes
72%
55%
BMW
78%
53%
Audi
72%
49%
Peugeot
59%
41%
Volkswagen
55%
41%
Skoda
46%
36%
Citroen
58%
35%
Ford
45%
31%
Renault
57%
31%
Nissan
49%
30%
Dacia
49%
26%
Seat
42%
24%
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2Share of passenger car sales58%58%55%55%53%53%49%49%41%41%41%41%36%36%35%35%31%31%31%31%30%30%26%26%24%24%23%23%21%21%18%18%16%16%3%3%88%88%72%72%78%78%72%72%59%59%55%55%46%46%58%58%45%45%57%57%49%49%49%49%42%42%35%35%37%37%46%46%42%42%23%23%20152019VolvoMercedesBMWAudiPeugeotVolkswagenSkodaCitroenFordRenaultNissanDaciaSeatFiatOpelKiaHyundaiToyota
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ICCT. (December 18, 2020). Percentage share of new passenger cars in Europe* with diesel engines in 2015 and 2019, by brand [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved June 30, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/425324/eu-car-sales-share-of-diesel-engines-by-brand/
ICCT. "Percentage share of new passenger cars in Europe* with diesel engines in 2015 and 2019, by brand." Chart. December 18, 2020. Statista. Accessed June 30, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/425324/eu-car-sales-share-of-diesel-engines-by-brand/
ICCT. (2020). Percentage share of new passenger cars in Europe* with diesel engines in 2015 and 2019, by brand. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: June 30, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/425324/eu-car-sales-share-of-diesel-engines-by-brand/
ICCT. "Percentage Share of New Passenger Cars in Europe* with Diesel Engines in 2015 and 2019, by Brand." Statista, Statista Inc., 18 Dec 2020, https://www.statista.com/statistics/425324/eu-car-sales-share-of-diesel-engines-by-brand/
ICCT, Percentage share of new passenger cars in Europe* with diesel engines in 2015 and 2019, by brand Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/425324/eu-car-sales-share-of-diesel-engines-by-brand/ (last visited June 30, 2025)
Percentage share of new passenger cars in Europe* with diesel engines in 2015 and 2019, by brand [Graph], ICCT, December 18, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/425324/eu-car-sales-share-of-diesel-engines-by-brand/
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