Diesel registrations in Europe declined 15% in April, ensuring the fuel type has lost its dominance of the car market.

The ongoing push for electric/hybrid vehicles was cited as a reason for the decline in performance from diesel.

The figures from JATO Dynamics show that diesel new cars performed well below the market average and accounted for just 46% of the market in April 2017, compared to a 50% market share in April 2016.

Felipe Munoz, global automotive analyst at JATO Dynamics, said: “While there are several reasons for this shift, all evidence points to the ‘dieselgate’ scandal as the start of this decline. Since the scandal, which broke in 2015, the fuel type has suffered major setbacks to its reputation as governments consider new legislation that directly affect diesel car owners – such as plans in the UK for a diesel scrappage scheme.

‘In tandem with this, the media continues to advise consumers to avoid the fuel type wherever possible. When factoring in the ongoing push for electric/hybrid vehicles, which are particularly prevalent in markets like the UK, it is perhaps no surprise to see this decline in performance from diesel.”