Dec. 27, 2013—More than 100,000 diesel vehicles will be sold by Volkswagen this year, the company reported this week, signaling what some consider to be a new outlook on the vehicle type.
Volkswagen credits its success in selling diesels by making it an engine option in most of its fleet, resulting in nearly 25 percent of the company’s sales in America.
Automakers have traditionally seen far lower sales numbers for diesel vehicles in the U.S. than Europe, but a recent report in the Los Angeles Times gives credence to diesel vehicles increasing their market share domestically.
According to the Times, sales of the car type will grow to about 10 percent of the total new vehicle sales in 2018, with Chevrolet having already release_notesd a diesel version of its Cruze, and Mazda preparing a diesel version of its Mazda6.
Though around 50 percent of car sales in Europe are diesels, the report expects sales to remain lower in the U.S. due to higher cost of diesel fuel, and diesel vehicles.