Nissan to drop diesel cars in Europe

The Japanese brand joins Toyota in phasing out the troubled fuel.

More bad news more the diesel industry as Japanese auto manufacturer Nissan announces plans to phase out the sale of diesel cars in Europe.

Nissan will gradually stop manufacturing and selling diesel vehicles in Europe due to tax increases, looming bans and restrictions for cars in several countries and capital cities. The Japanese company will instead focus on electric mobility and alternative fuels, reports Frankfurter Allgemeine.

The announcement comes just a month after a source from Nissan informed Reuters about plans to slash hundreds of jobs at the company’s Sunderland plant in the UK, mainly due to falling demand for diesel vehicles.

With this decision, Nissan becomes the second Japanese powerhouse to turn its back on diesel after Toyota announce a similar decision last March.

In contrast to the current mood in Europe towards diesel, the passion for pickup trucks has boosted diesel sales in the U.S., creating a safe haven for the infamous fuel.