Why are diesel cars so popular outside the US?

[Anonymous]

Just had two international trips last month (S America and Europe). Why are diesel cars so popular? There’s so much pollution from the diesel exhaust and the smell is terrible. A lot of these cars were late model cars too, so it’s not that they’re old models.

In the US only heavy trucks really use diesel.

[Anonymous]

They get America's trash. And they don't have laws around cars like we do.

[Anonymous]

Fuel taxes mostly.

Other countries tax gasoline very heavily. Diesel is not taxed as much because their economy is dependent on diesel vehicles moving goods around, whereas gasoline vehicles are used by MC/UMC/wealthy people.

Diesel is also more efficient than gasoline in terms of energy density, so diesel vehicles tend to get better mileage for the same mass/size/type vehicle than gasoline versions of the same vehicle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They get America's trash. And they don't have laws around cars like we do.

Europe doesn’t get our trash cars.

[Anonymous]

Most of Europe, including several non-EU countries, taxes vehicles by engine displacement and fuel type.

Diesel fuel tax rate per cc is visibly lower than gasoline fuel tax rate per cc in many European countries.

The VAT/sales tax rate at time of purchase often also is lower for diesel than gasoline fuel tax.