The Breakdown:
- Stellantis has decided to keep diesel engines in its product portfolio in Europe.
- The automaker is continuing the produce diesel version of the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, DS 7, and other Peugeot, Opel, and Citroën models.
- The company is doing this because ‘we are focused on customer demand.’
Stellantis has undergone tremendous changes over the last year. The automaker put the Hemi V8 back into the Ram 1500, discontinued Chrysler and Jeep’s plug-in hybrids, and killed Ram’s electric truck before it even hit the market. Now, the company is resurrecting—and keeping—diesel engines in Europe.
The automaker told Reuters, "We have decided to keep diesel engines in our product portfolio—and in some cases—to increase our powertrain offering." Stellantis said it’s doing so because "we are focused on customer demand."
According to the report, Stellantis has been quietly reviving the powertrain in at least seven European models since late 2025, even though diesel sales have fallen in the decade since Volkswagen’s Dieselgate scandal. Diesels accounted for just 7.7 percent of new-car sales on the continent in 2025.
The publication reported that Opel, Peugeot, and Citroën models are regaining diesel options. The automaker also said it would continue producing diesel versions of the DS 7 and the Alfa Romeo Tonale, Giulia, and Stelvio "in response to sustained customer demand."
Motor1’s Take: Consumer demand for electric vehicles in Europe hasn’t been as strong as expected, putting automakers in a difficult position as they decide what to build. Stellantis falling back on diesels makes sense as Chinese automakers corner the EV market, so the European automaker must differentiate itself.
