The French government has a message for automakers and suppliers who are grappling with the swift decline of diesel sales: ‘We are here to help.’

The minister will meet with industry leaders in early April to discuss ways to save the 12,000 French jobs related to diesel engines and components.

Speaking during a tour of PSA Group’s factory in Mulhouse, France, with PSA CEO Carlos Tavares, Le Maire said the government sought to “help large companies such as PSA manage the transformation toward gasoline, hybrids and electrification.”

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As new car sales volumes fell by 6.3% in January 2018, the SMMT are urging the government to encourage fleet drivers to utilise diesel vehicles again to boost diesel sales. The market share of diesel-fuelled vehicles fell to 35.9%, whereas the market share of petrol and alternative fuelled vehicles rose to 23.9%. The SMMT have suggested confusion over government policy was causing buyers to hesitate.

Read More… https://www.am-online.com/news/market-insight/2018/02/05/january-s-63-new-car-registrations-decline-prompts-diesel-rallying-cry-from-smmt 

[Source: AM-Online, Feb’18]

During 2017, over 8.1 million second-hand cars were sold, with used diesel sales increasing by 3.3%  despite the widespread uncertainty surrounding diesel vehicles. The figures, released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

[Source: Auto Express, Feb’18]

 

 

Read More… http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/consumer-news/100490/used-car-market-posts-robust-2017-figures-as-ev-sales-surge

Volvo is going all in on electrification of its vehicles, starting with its 90 Series sedan and SUV.

Volvo has said that by 2019, all vehicles it produces will have an electric motor. That’s not to say they will all be fully electric vehicles; many are likely to be gas-electric hybrids like the T8 PHEV (plug-in electric hybrid) variant of the S90 for 2018.

The T8 hybrid is one of three powertrains offered on the new S90, with the others being the 250 hp T5 AWD and the 316 hp T6. All have 2.0-litre four-cylinder engines with the T5 using a turbocharger and the T6 both a turbocharger and a supercharger.

The T8 hybrid powertrain, which is also available on the XC90, also includes a 2.0-litre supercharged and turbocharged inline four. The 87 hp electric motor, which drives the rear wheels, brings the total horsepower up to 400 with 472 lb/ft of torque.

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See more about Volvo’s PowerPulse technology to reduce turbolag.

Carlos Tavares, the CEO of French carmaker Groupe PSA, has warned that the ongoing shift to petrol vehicles threatens to knock the EU off course in its efforts to cut CO2 emissions.

Diesel is far dirtier than petrol in terms of pollutants such as NOx and particulate matter. But European carmakers also point out that CO2 emissions from petrol cars are measurably higher.

“The rapid decline of diesel’s share in EU markets…poses serious challenges for meeting CO2 reduction targets – not only those for 2030, but also the targets already set for 2021,” warned Tavares, whose PSA Groupe owns brands such as Peugeot, Citroën, Opel and Vauxhaul.

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