New car sales of diesel cars are falling. One factor is that the price of diesel is rising and has recently hit record highs. Car dealers clearly notice the declining trend.
– Almost no new diesel cars are registered these days. 95 percent of what we sell is electrified, says Rasmus Björklund, location manager of Niemi bil in Luleå.
At Niemi bil, with several car garages in Norrbotten and Västerbotten, you can clearly see that new registrations of diesel cars are falling. Greater environmental awareness among buyers and improved charging options for electric cars, also in northern Sweden, are seen as reasons.
Motorists at the fuel stations have their opinions clear about future car purchases.
Electrified car next
– My next car will probably be a hybrid, I think. Because it still feels that it is not sustainable with fossil fuels in the long run, so some combination, says Jannike Tiger who today drives a diesel Skoda.
– I’m thinking about an electric car, I’ve received quotes and so we’ll see what happens, says motorist Mattias Nilsson, who today drives a diesel Volvo.
Diesel price high
The used market for diesel cars has fallen by 20 percentage points in recent years from accounting for 70 percent of sales. The fact that the price of diesel has risen significantly in the past year affects the interest in diesel cars.
From the turn of the year, the government will not raise the diesel tax as much as planned, but the price at the pump is still expected to rise by around 15 öre per litre.
– A diesel car is cheaper, but today it is not justifiable, it is not. Now they are cheaper with a gasoline-powered alternative electric car or hybrid, explains Mattias Nilsson, who drives a diesel car both privately and in his construction company.
The car dealer, which sells both new and used cars, sees a bleak future for diesel cars.
– The diesel cars will be replaced by more electrified vehicles, concludes Rasmus Björklund, site manager Niemi bil.