A stumble in the demand for EVs could be benefiting diesel, at least in the short term, new data has shown. In December, UK electric sales fell 34%, while those for diesel actually rose 12%, briefly arresting a decline that began back in 2016. “When BEV does badly, combustion engines do better, but diesel does a little better than petrol,” Al Bedwell, head of powertrain analysis at market researchers GlobalData said. In Germany the situation is even more pronounced.
At that point BMW 5-series sales were 93% D-badged as the UK headed towards its diesel pinnacle in 2011 accounting for half the car market. The ratio in 2008 was the same for any large car launched by a premium brand, for example the BMW X5 was 95% diesel and the Volvo XC90 almost the same. Land Rover was 98% diesel. Fast forward through the Volkswagen dieselgate scandal in 2015 and its very different picture.