In Germany, Volkswagen cars marked with TDI nameplates have long been familiar and loved, but this point of view is far from being shared in all European countries. For example, in the Netherlands, the share of diesel cars in Audi’s sales structure has already fallen to 1%. Similar figures for other brands of the concern. Therefore, the company decided to stop selling diesel cars in this country.
Such modifications have already disappeared from the price lists and online configurators of the brands Volkswagen, Skoda, Seat and Audi. Although the cars ordered in advance, of course, will be delivered to customers. Gasoline, gas, hybrid and electric models are now available for order. The Netherlands became the first European country where Volkswagen completely abandoned diesel passenger models. Although light commercial Volkswagens are still offered with diesel engines.
The Volkswagen diesel engine scandal (“dieselgate”) that happened in 2015 seriously undermined the position of such engines around the world. Even Europe, which is extremely loyal to diesels, began to rapidly abandon such cars. Until 2015, diesel cars accounted for half of the demand, but already in 2019 their share was reduced to a third, and in 2021 it was less than 20%. Instead of diesel cars, Europeans are buying plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles: according to JATO Dynamics, their combined market share was 19% last year.
