Diesel Car Sales In U.K. To Overtake Petrol Powered Vehicle Sales In 3 Years

March 18, 2008 12:44 p.m. EST

London, England (AHN) - To avoid hefty fines on fuel inefficient automobiles, British motorists will shift towards diesel-powered vehicles, causing the sales of diesel models to outpace petrol-powered ones within the next three years.

According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, diesel cars made up 40.2 percent of the 2.4 million vehicles sold in the U.K. in 2007, up from only 13.8 percent in 1999.

For now, diesel consumption had already overtaken petrol, with 6.7 billion gallons (25.5 billion liters) of diesel sold, versus 6.3 billion gallons (24 billion liters) of petrol.

By 2010, a $1,920 (950 pound) showroom tax will be levied in U.K. for vehicles with high levels of carbon dioxide emissions. It includes the Renault Espace, Range Rover and the BMW 5 series.

With European automakers producing more green vehicles, the society said average CO2 emissions from new British cars had dipped by more than 13 percent since 1997.