U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Vehicle Technologies Program

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.

Western Europe Diesel Car Market Share, 1999-2006
Graph showing the western European diesel car market share from 1999 to 2006. The trend is that more diesel-powered cars are being sold in Europe than gasoline-powered cars. For more detailed information, see the table below.

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.

 

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