The owner of Vauxhall is bringing diesel cars back to Britain as it shifts away from electric vehicles.
Stellantis, which also owns Fiat and Jeep, is undergoing a strategic transition away from EVs after sales lagged behind expectations, according to a review of dealer websites and company statements.
The world’s fourth-largest carmaker started reintroducing diesel versions of at least seven cars and vans last year, including the Peugeot 308 hatchback and the premium DS No 4.
“We have decided to keep diesel engines in our product portfolio and — in some cases — to increase our powertrain offer,” the company told Reuters. “At Stellantis we want to generate growth, that’s why we are focused on customer demand.”
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Governments across Europe have already been diluting their emissions targets, allowing petrol and diesel cars to remain on sale for longer than previously planned. Under President Trump, the US has also been retreating from EVs.
Last week, the Trump administration reversed a scientific finding that greenhouse gas emissions endanger human health. The decision has significantly weakened vehicle tailpipe emissions standards.
Stellantis had previously pledged that electric cars would make up all of its European sales and half of its US sales by 2030. However, customer appetite has failed to meet those targets.
While it appears to mark a setback for reducing carbon emissions, the pivot towards diesel engines offers the car giant a potential advantage over Chinese rivals, many of which focus heavily on electric and plug-in hybrid cars.
Diesel models remain cheaper than fully electric alternatives, giving Europe’s carmakers an advantage when it comes to competition from low-cost Chinese imports.
