Diesel: short downtimes for used cars
WENDE This is good news for many Swiss car dealers: the downtime of used diesel vehicles continues to fall. Currently, garages can find a buyer for a used diesel after 86 days. Data specialist René Mitteregger from Auto-i-dat AG: "It would appear that the numerous good arguments in favor of the diesel engine - fuel consumption, CO2 emissions, torque - are being [...]
Data specialist René Mitteregger from Auto-i-dat AG: "It would appear that the numerous good arguments in favor of the diesel engine - fuel consumption, CO2 emissions, torque - are once again being heard by car buyers. The diesel has long since bid farewell to the 96-day peak of the last two years."
Reputational damage for technology
In the aftermath of the Dieselgate affair about falsified emission values almost four years ago, the technology suffered enormous reputational damage. The consequences in Switzerland included increasing sales of petrol cars - as well as rising consumption values and CO2 emissions caused by new cars.
Swiss prices remain stable
The DAT is not only reporting falling downtimes - but also residual values. René Mitteregger cannot confirm this for Switzerland: "Prices are very stable. From 2014 to 2018, the number of changes of ownership of diesel vehicles rose from 18,000 to 237,000. As there are currently a large number of second-hand vehicles in demand, diesel is still in good shape."
Fewer new variants on offer
The picture is different on the new car market. Here, 20 percent fewer new diesel vehicles were registered in 2018 compared to the previous year. This is only partly due to dwindling confidence among motorists. René Mitteregger: "It is probably also due to the fact that fewer diesel variants are being offered."
