At the moment, some 60 percent of powertrains in new cars in Europe are diesel, but the expense involved in having them comply with the upcoming Euro 6 regulations is expected to reduce this by a significant percentage.
Carmakers are also using high-tech methods to making small dispacement petrol engines with greater outputs, particularly VW, Ford, and soon, Opel. The costs involved in developing Euro 6 compliant petrol engines are substantially less than with diesels.
Meanwile, the shift to alternative and more efficient powertrains such as electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles is not expected to grow very fast, mainly because the provision of charging or hydrogen fuel infrastructures across Europe is running at a very slow pace.
