Automotive Technology: How Diesel Conquered the World – and Lost It Again
Just a decade ago, diesel was so important that even Porsche installed it. Then a cheating scandal brought it to a halt. A look back at the 90th birthday of the drive.
The diesel engine's popularity in Germany has declined significantly, with only 10% market share of new vehicle registrations in summer 2026. This is a far cry from its peak, when nearly every second new car, including convertibles and sports cars, was a diesel. The diesel engine was patented in 1893 by Rudolf Diesel, who aimed to make large stationary machines and ship engines more efficient.
Diesel engines were first used in trucks and car prototypes in the 1920s, and Mercedes-Benz introduced the first diesel-powered passenger car, the Type 260 D, in 1936.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's report — not a translation of it. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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