More than half of diesel car sales in the UK are coming from premium brands, led by Land Rover, as volume brands continue to trim diesels in favour of electrification.
The four biggest premium brands – Audi, BMW, Land Rover and Mercedes-Benz – accounted for 56% of diesel car sales in the first half of 2023 in the UK, amid a continued decline in popularity of the fuel.
SMMT figures reveal that diesel sales fell 11% to 86,469 in the UK to the end of July, giving the fuel a record low 7.9% share. That includes both pure diesels and those with mild-hybrid electrification.
The diesel share has now fallen to half that of electric cars, which grew 38% to capture 16% of the market.
However, diesel sales at the higher end of the market remain fairly robust, with premium models accounting for four of the five best-selling diesel cars.
The best-selling diesel model by far was the Land Rover Defender, with 6049 sales, ahead of the Audi Q5, Range Rover Sport, Volkswagen Tiguan and Land Rover Discovery.
Diesels' share of Land Rover sales for the year stood at 56%, compared with 7.9% for car makers on average, illustrating the continued popularity of the fuel among customers of larger SUVs looking for fuel efficiency.
Such is the continuing popularity of diesel among Land Rover customers that the brand has made a fifth of all UK diesel sales so far this year.
Jaguar’s share of diesel across its total sales was also far above average, at 41%.
The figure declines, however, among German premium brands. Audi was the UK’s second biggest-selling diesel maker from January to July, but diesels' share of its sales was much lower, at 14%.
“For many drivers, the latest diesel cars still remain the most efficient option – particularly for those based in rural areas, those covering high miles or those with towing requirements,” SMMT CEO Mike Hawes told Autocar.
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