The 'rarity' that will be Diesel Passenger Cars

The journey of diesel passenger cars has been amazing - it's been a challenging growth ramp overcoming 'customer perceptions' and 'branding consciousness' in the 1930s to becoming the preferred choice for consumers in Europe and many Asian markets in the 1980. Post that being over-written and stuck off at every emission norm - yet innovating with high pressure common rail, engine management systems, single and dual stage turbos, cold starting aids, aftertreament devices like DPF and SCR to stay below the limits 'time and time' again.

In India, my generation experienced it first with the Ambassadors fitted with BMC engine from Austin Motor Company. The real performance difference became clearly visible when Ambassadors with Isuzu engines showed up. The cost parity between petrol (gasoline) and Diesel, made Diesel cars very attractive especially for long distance travellers. At the fag end of 1990's both Maruti Suzuki and Tata Indica showed that the shift to Diesel is 'true' and had far more acceptance. The massive pre-bookings of the Diesel variant surprised everyone. Since then Diesel has never looked back.

Diesel passenger cars have been facing off challenges from environmentalists but post the infamous 'Dieselgate' scandal and multiple others that has seen nearly every European and Japanese diesel engine manufacturer cited for inconsistencies, it's been a downward sprial especially in urban city areas. Older Diesel Passenger Cars (Euro IV and less) are banned in many European cities, while cities like Delhi in Asia have banned larger (> 2.0 Ltr) Diesels thereby making Mahindra, Toyota and Mercedes Benz re-think product strategy.

All said and done, the move to Diesel in India was always due to commercials. While the initial cost of the Diesel passenger cars was priced 50K to 100K INR higher than the gasoline variants, they clearly made up on the operating cost as Diesel fuel was highly subsidized and wear and tear was not any worse than the gasoline variants.

The scene has totally turned upside down. With the jump from BS IV emission norms to BS VI emission norms effective midnight on 31st March 2020, most OEMs are announcing that they will stop making BS IV vehicles post 1st Jan 2020. Come BS VI, the Diesels will be priced 150K to 250K INR higher than the gasoline variants. The operating cost will significantly increase due to additional fluids and complexities of the emission aftertreatment system. And, well, the Diesel subsidies are gone, all of them, making Diesel fuel only slightly cheaper than the gasoline.

For car buyers in 2019, going with Diesel may not be a wise choice. As towards the end, the supply chain is going to lose series production orders and the parts will get expensive, especially since BS IV vehicles have only been out there for a few years (i.e. country-wide)

With hybridization and total electrification being on the road map of all OEMs and Government policies both at the center and at the state level favouring electrification, new Diesel platform development are being struck off the list.

For all we now, the last Diesel passenger car in India may already be out there. It maybe the one you are driving.