The new car market is seeing a notable decline in diesel availability, with manufacturers increasingly discontinuing diesel engine options. As of April this year, only one in 18 new cars sold were diesels, representing a 13% drop compared to the first five months of 2024. This contrasts sharply with 2015, when diesels accounted for half of all new car registrations and there were 202 different models available. Major manufacturers like Volvo, Vauxhall, and Toyota have completely ceased offering new diesel cars, and others such as Ford and Peugeot have significantly reduced their diesel offerings.
This decline in new diesel sales, from 1.24 million in 2014 to just 123,104 last year, is largely attributed to shifts in government policy and public perception. The ‘dieselgate’ scandal in 2015 led to increased Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) rates and the introduction of low emission zones, making diesels less attractive, particularly for urban drivers. Global pressure to phase out internal combustion engine vehicles by 2030-2035 has also impacted new diesel development.
However, the used car market presents a different picture. In 2024, nearly 2.7 million second-hand diesel cars were sold, making up 35% of all used car transactions. This sustained demand is reflected in price movements, with Auto Trader data showing that the average value of used diesels grew by 1.6% in the past 12 months, outperforming petrol cars (0.5% increase) and contrasting with declines in used electric vehicles (-7.6%) and plug-in hybrids (-3.4%). Used diesels are also selling quickly, with an average sale time of 27 days, comparable to petrols.
According to Cap Hpi, the average price of a three-year-old used diesel with 30,000 miles has only fallen by 0.6% between April 2024 and April 2025, significantly less than the 10% drop for comparable EVs. Certain diesel models have seen notable price increases, including the Audi A8 (2017-current), which saw a 9% increase, and the previous-generation Honda HR-V SUV (2019-2021), also up 9%. BMW X3 (2017-2025) diesels increased by 8%, and Audi Q2 (2016-2022) diesels by 7%.
Marc Palmer, head of strategy and insights at Auto Trader, noted that there is “no sign of the diesel death rattle just yet,” particularly among drivers who value their fuel efficiency, torque for towing, and longer range for long-distance driving. Chris Plumb, head of current car valuations at Cap Hpi, attributed the strong performance of used diesels to the diminishing availability of both new and used diesel models, which helps keep prices stable.
Source: Daily Mail