[blackwasp]

According to a media report, Volkswagen has almost doubled its diesel car sales in Germany to private customers in 2018, when compared to the previous year. Overall, diesel cars reportedly accounted for 43% of total group sales.

In 2015, Volkswagen admitted to cheating in emission tests and faced recalls, fines and some of the executives were charged as well. Diesel engines are popular among those who commute long distances due to better efficiency compared to petrol engines. Meanwhile, Volkswagen claims that the latest generation diesel engines emit up to 10 grams/km lesser emissions.

The company’s passenger sales unit sold 62,44,900 vehicles globally in 2018, an increase of 0.2% over the previous year. The Volkswagen Group overall delivered 1,08,34,000 units, ahead of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance, which delivered a total of 1,07,56,875 units.



Source: Carscoops

Link to the Team-BHP News

[cs_rajesh]

Originally Posted by blackwasp

According to a media report, Volkswagen has almost doubled its diesel car sales in Germany to private customers in 2018, when compared to the previous year.

The company’s passenger sales unit sold 62,44,900 vehicles globally in 2018, an increase of 0.2% over the previous year.

I am not able to correlate the two statements, one says VW almost doubled its diesel car sales to private customers but no figures are indicated what would be the private customer numbers. OTOH, the passenger sales (perhaps includes commercial segment as well, hmm) is just 0.2% increase over previous year. Any figures comparing private customer numbers for year 2018 vs 2017?

[blackwasp]

Originally Posted by cs_rajesh

I am not able to correlate the two statements, one says VW almost doubled its diesel car sales to private customers...

The diesel sales have doubled in Germany only, VW's home base, while the bigger numbers are for the total sales worldwide.

[ajmat]

Let me explain it, private motorists are taking advantage of the discounted prices post Dieselgate and buying them. Diesels are getting restructured in big cities. Those who live in big cities do not really need a car, hence these buyers are mainly outside the big cities.

Diesel is the most efficient and convenient fuel for longer journeys still.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

While the world thought the emission scandal marked the beginning of the end for diesel engines - VW just managed a shocker!

IMO - this shows more than anything that the alternatives for a good diesel engine are just not in place.

Hybrids and electrics aren't there, just yet - unless they figure out how to make fast charging accessible soon.

[avira_tk]

The government will tax the daylights out of fuel in the foreseeable future and people know fully well that petrol cars aren't as fuel efficient. The downsizing tend has made fuel economy worse, diesel is the best choice for long distance users and those who want to keep costs low, private buyers are making the right choice in such an environment. The same idiots demonising diesel were encouraging it for two decades, VW has the cleanest diesels on sale today, they know that customers need diesel heck, the French are rioting to lower diesel prices.

Germany has high electricity costs because they went for renewable energy and stopped nuclear power, eventually realising their stupidity and going back to coal. EV will be a tough sell in such an unstable political scenario.

[Joxster]

Originally Posted by blackwasp

According to a media report, Volkswagen has almost doubled its diesel car sales in Germany to private customers in 2018, when compared to the previous year.

Thank you for sharing! Ironically, the image is of the Golf R, which has one of the most hardcore inline 4 petrol engines amongst the VAG groups' car range.

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

While the world thought the emission scandal marked the beginning of the end for diesel engines - VW just managed a shocker!

IMO - this shows more than anything that the alternatives for a good diesel engine are just not in place.

While I agree with you about the lack of alternatives to a good diesel engine currently, I believe that the death knell has been sounded for diesel engines in passenger cars throughout Europe except for Germany, which is what this article seems to confirm as well, because there is no mention of a turnaround in sales in any other country. Here in Belgium, we already have big companies removing diesel cars as an option from their company car inventories, with only Petrol, Hybrid or Electric as an option going forward. Even people (like my Belgian MIL ) who have next to no knowledge about automobiles, are advising others not to buy or lease a diesel car under any circumstances, because the upcoming bans will render them both useless and worthless.

Cheers

[anandpadhye]

Originally Posted by blackwasp

The diesel sales have doubled in Germany only, VW's home base, while the bigger numbers are for the total sales worldwide.

Yet, no numbers published for "private customers buying diesels".

Originally Posted by ajmat

Let me explain it, private motorists are taking advantage of the discounted prices post Dieselgate and buying them. Diesels are getting restructured in big cities. Those who live in big cities do not really need a car, hence these buyers are mainly outside the big cities.

Diesel is the most efficient and convenient fuel for longer journeys still.

And how do you explain this phenomenon happening only in one country in the continent?

[Jeroen]

by and large, diesel engine are losing their charm in most European countries quickly. Although there are differences from countries to countries the diesel engine has been the main stay for company cars much more than for private ownership.

Yes, diesels are more fuel effective, but they weight more. So diesel engine powered cars might fall in higher road tax and insurance brackets. Diesel price compared to petrol price is big factor as well. Again, there are difference country from country.

I am oversimplifying but in practice it used to work out that anybody driving more than 20-25.000 kilometres would benefit from driving a diesel. Lots of professional people in Europe clock a lot more. But private usage tends to be well below this threshold.

But due to all sorts of circumstances that inflection point is moving upwards rapidly. These days anybody doing less than 30-35K in our company will get a petrol car, not a diesel anymore. I am doing about 28-30K and I have got a petrol not a diesel company car. (Already 18 months back)

A big factor is the second hand value of diesels which has completely collapsed. It is becoming more and more difficult to use older diesels inside cities anywhere in Europe. Company diesel cars would end up in the second hand market after 130-150.000 km. They would easily do another 135-150K and there was a good second hand market for them. With little depreciation left, good fuel economy and reliability there were always takers. And you could make the numbers work at lower mileage.

With rock bottom second hand market, depreciation is now completely out of this world. Nobody wants a second or third hand diesel anymore. It is becoming just to inconvenient driving an older diesel in Europe. So they all get exported to Africa, middle East etc. for next to nothing.

There is some good news too, from the diesel engine perspective that is. Outside of Europe there is still a huge Diesel market!

Jeroen

[sandeepmohan]

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

Hybrids and electrics aren't there, just yet - unless they figure out how to make fast charging accessible soon.

For the latter Yes. As for Hybrids, the technology is proven. Aside from some of the top end SUV's and UTE's, the entire portfolio from Toyota has a Hybrid option. I do not know why adoption of Hybrid technology has been slow from several other manufacturers.