Are diesel engines coming back? Stellantis could be considering this move

For several years now, diesel engines have been suffering a rather significant decline in the automotive market. It seemed that this type of engine was already out of the game and that there was no further road ahead for them. But it appears that some brands want to revive diesel engines and make them a valid option once again. Stellantis seems to want to equip several of its models with new-generation diesel engines.

One of the reasons that may justify this decision could be the poor results obtained throughout 2024. Although they no longer enjoy much popularity, there are still many users who prefer this type of engine, especially those who make long journeys by car.

At present, there are few models in the Stellantis Group that offer diesel engines. At FIAT there are two models with diesel engines: the Fiat 500X and the Fiat Tipo, which has a diesel engine delivering 130 CV. According to information provided by several French media outlets, Stellantis not only wants to promote the production of models with hybrid engines, but also wants to devote efforts to developing new diesel models.

Reports have already emerged indicating that, although diesel may be more polluting than petrol, the technology applied to these engines reduces their polluting potential and makes it a more sustainable technology than it was a few years ago. Other brands continue to offer diesel models, and Stellantis wants its own to compete on equal terms with those others and regain its presence in the market.

For the time being, this is nothing more than a comment made in an interview conducted by Jean Philippe Learnato, Stellantis’s new head in Europe. If so, and if this proposal goes ahead, it would apply to brands such as Citroën, Peugeot and Opel. This runs counter to Europe’s pollutant emissions targets, although it is possible that the idea has more potential than we think.