Fact #481: August 6, 2007
Diesel Car Sales Top Gasoline Car Sales in Europe

In 2006, for the first time, there were more diesel-powered cars sold in Europe than gasoline-powered cars (51% diesel market share). The first six months of 2007 are proving that the diesel market share is still growing (52.2%). In 1999, diesels only accounted for 28.4% of the new car market. Diesel sales in Norway for the first half of 2007 had the largest increase of any of the European countries – from 48.4% in 2006 to 73.4% in 2007.

Supporting Information

Western Europe Diesel Car Sales Shares, 1999-2006

	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007*
Belgium**	54.3%	56.7%	62.6%	64.2%	68.3%	69.9%	72.6%	74.7%	76.4%
France	44.1%	49.0%	56.2%	63.2%	67.4%	69.2%	69.1%	71.4%	73.6%
Germany	22.4%	30.4%	34.6%	38.0%	39.8%	44.0%	42.7%	44.3%	46.8%
Italy	29.1%	33.7%	36.6%	43.6%	48.7%	58.4%	58.5%	58.2%	55.3%
Norway	8.2%	9.0%	13.3%	17.5%	23.2%	27.0%	39.2%	48.4%	73.4%
Spain	51.7%	53.1%	52.5%	57.3%	60.4%	65.1%	67.7%	70.0%	70.0%
Switzerland	6.6%	9.2%	13.3%	17.8%	21.5%	25.9%	28.1%	30.0%	30.9%
United Kingdom	13.8%	14.1%	17.8%	23.5%	27.3%	32.5%	36.8%	38.3%	38.7%
Total	28.4%	32.3%	36.0%	40.4%	43.6%	48.3%	49.4%	51.0%	52.2%
* First six months of 2007. ** Beginning in 2005, Belgium data also include Luxembourg. Note: Total includes Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Eire, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Source: Automotive Industry Data Newsletter, Nos. 0102, 0302, 0501, 0602, 0702, and 0714.

 

Return to 2007 Facts of the Week