Japanese consumers are racing to buy diesel cars. Sales are speeding ahead, with motorists attracted by the fuel efficiency.
An industry organization says just over 80,000 of the cars were sold in the first half of this year. That has already passed the figure for all of 2014. Sales are projected to reach a record high of about 150,000 this year. That means one in every 20 new cars sold will run on diesel.
European makers in Japan have shifted into high gear. Sweden's Volvo introduced five models this month, including its mainstay van and sedan. German automaker BMW began selling a minivan in June — its eighth diesel model in Japan.
Diesel cars are popular in Europe. Motorists there view them as eco-friendly, due to their high mileage and low CO2 emissions. Industry officials say the same awareness is starting to spread among Japanese drivers. Carmakers have managed to drastically cut the amount of soot emissions. Prices of diesel cars have also come down to levels approaching their gasoline-powered counterparts.
◆race to 競い合って～する
◆run on （車が）～を燃料として走る
◆mainstay 主力
◆mileage 燃費
◆soot スス
◆come down 減少する
◆counterpart 同等のもの
