The historic importance of diesel engines in Europe cannot be overstated. At their peak in the 2010s, diesels accounted for more than 50 percent of new car sales. Of course, that was right before the Volkswagen Group’s messy scandal, which, in hindsight, likely marked the beginning of the end. Sales never recovered, and it’s been downhill ever since. In 2017, gasoline cars outsold diesels for the first time since 2009, according to data published by the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association.
