Plug-In Hybrids Are Outselling Diesel Cars In Europe For The First Time

"There was a time when diesel ruled the roads in Europe. With a market share of over 50% in the 2010s, the so-called oil burners seemed like they would stick around for decades to come, thanks to their promise of delivering ridiculously high fuel efficiency and low running costs. Well, that changed in 2015, when a little something called Dieselgate entered the chat. Long story short, Volkswagen's cheating scandal meant that people lost trust in diesel cars. So the downfall began."

"According to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA), diesel cars were outsold by plug-in hybrids in the first 10 months of 2025a first in the region. This means oil burners are now sitting in fifth place with only 8% of the total new-car sales across the 27 European Union countries, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland (EFTA) and the United Kingdom. By contrast, PHEVs now have a 9.4% market share, up 32.9% over the same period last year."

"At the same time, diesel car sales dropped 24.1% year-over-year. This is the last nail in the coffin for the once-promising fuel. In 2017, gas-only cars overtook diesel in Europe. Traditional hybrids did the same in 2021, and electric cars followed. As it stands right now, hybrids are on the top spot, with 34.7% of the market, followed by gas cars with 26.9% and EVs with 18.3% in the EU+EFTA+UK region."

Diesel cars once held over 50% market share in Europe during the 2010s due to high fuel efficiency and low running costs. Volkswagen's 2015 emissions-cheating scandal (Dieselgate) eroded consumer trust and began a long decline. By the first ten months of 2025, plug-in hybrids outsold diesel across EU+EFTA+UK, leaving diesel with an 8% share while PHEVs reached 9.4% (up 32.9% year-over-year) and diesel sales dropped 24.1%. Market leadership shifted to hybrids (34.7%), then gasoline (26.9%) and EVs (18.3%). Tighter emissions rules and shifting preferences reduced diesel availability, even for small city cars.

Read at insideevs.com