Nissan to Withdraw from Diesel Car Sales in Europe

May 7, 2018

Tokyo- Nissan Motor Co. plans to gradually end its diesel-engine car sales in Europe due to tighter environmental regulations in the region, informed sources said Monday.

The Japanese automaker will stop offering diesel-powered versions when model changeovers are made in Europe, where it instead will focus on electric and gas-electric hybrid vehicles, the sources said.

Nissan has been offering diesel versions for a wide range of its models sold in Europe, including the Qashqai sport-utility vehicle and Micra compact car.

Diesel vehicles, which have better fuel economy than gasoline vehicles, are popular in Europe, but emit large amounts of nitrogen oxides and other pollutants.

Britain and France have unveiled plans to ban sales of both gasoline and diesel vehicles by 2040.

In addition, an emissions-cheating scandal involving German automaker Volkswagen AG that came to light in 2015 has heightened consumer distrust in diesel vehicles.

Among other Japanese automakers, Toyota Motor Corp. <7203> also plans to gradually withdraw from diesel car sales in Europe.

Subaru Corp. plans to end its diesel vehicle sales in Europe and other regions around fiscal 2020, which ends in March 2021. Jiji Press