The Quick Decline of Diesel
Just ten years ago, European buyers could choose from more than 200 diesel models when picking out a new car. Fast forward to 2025, and that figure is set to drop to fewer than 100—the diesel offering has been cut down to only a third of what it was. Unsurprisingly, sales figures have taken a nosedive too. Where diesel engines once powered over half of all new vehicles sold in Europe, they now barely scrape a few percent of market share.
The Dutch Ditch Diesel the Fastest
Nowhere is this diesel dip more dramatic than in the Netherlands. In the first half of 2025, just 2,556 new diesel cars were registered, making up a meager 1.6% of the Dutch market. Just for reference: in July alone, hybrids accounted for well over 50% of all new car sales. The tables have truly turned.
Causes: Scandal, Regulation, and Green Alternatives
The fall of diesel didn’t start with the infamous Volkswagen Dieselgate scandal in 2015, but that event certainly put the pedal to the metal. After that, higher purchase prices, stricter environmental regulations, and the rise of hybrid and electric cars each played a crucial part. Dutch policy has also thrown more roadblocks in diesel’s path, including tax measures and ever-tighter environmental zones: for example, cities are increasingly shutting their gates to older diesels that don’t meet today’s emission standards.
Modern hybrids, to rub salt in the wound, are often more efficient and cleaner than diesels. For the same money, drivers now get a petrol-hybrid that emits 25 to 30% less CO2. And while diesels have always promised low emissions on paper, their real-world results usually disappoint. Attempts to marry diesel with hybrid tech—think the Mercedes E-Class plug-in diesel—never really caught on.
Defiant Diesels and Persistent Popularity
Oddly enough, used diesel vehicles still hold their value remarkably well in certain segments:
- Premium SUVs (like the Range Rover Evoque or Volkswagen Touareg)
- Off-roaders,
- And even classics like the diesel Volkswagen Golf
all boast high residual values. In Spain, a staggering 60% of vehicles on the road are still diesel-powered. And in the Netherlands, the second-hand diesel market remains fairly stable. In fact, scarcity in the coming years could actually push prices up—a plot twist worthy of a soap opera!
What’s Next? The Diesel Countdown
Forecasts from Cox Automotive predict diesel’s market share in Europe will dip below 2% as early as 2028. The European Union has already drawn a line in the sand: from 2035 onward, no new cars with internal combustion engines—petrol or diesel—will be sold.
For the Netherlands, this marks a definitive turning point. You’ll still spot diesels on the second-hand market and in heavyweight vehicles like trucks and buses for some time. But for the everyday driver, the countdown has certainly begun. So, if you still hear that familiar diesel clatter rolling past, enjoy it while it lasts—because soon, it will be just another nostalgic memory in the rear-view mirror.
John is a curious mind who loves to write about diverse topics. Passionate about sharing his thoughts and perspectives, he enjoys sparking conversations and encouraging discovery. For him, every subject is an invitation to discuss and learn.
