BMW defies the diesel decline as luxury SUVs keep the fuel alive in 2025

Diesel engines are losing ground in Germany, but BMW still relies on them for its larger models. In 2025, fewer than 30% of new BMW registrations were diesel—a sharp drop from over 70% a decade earlier. The trend reflects a wider decline in diesel’s popularity across Europe, though BMW’s figures remain higher than the national average.

The shift away from diesel has been steady. By the last quarter of 2025, only 26.6% of new BMWs ran on diesel fuel. Yet some models continue to buck the trend, particularly the brand’s biggest SUVs.

The BMW X6 led the way, with 78.2% of its registrations in 2025 being diesel-powered. The X5 and X4 also saw over half of their sales in diesel versions, while the X7 followed closely behind. Even among luxury saloons, the 7 Series and X3 still attracted at least a third of buyers opting for diesel.

Only two models—the 3 Series and 5 Series—managed to sell more than 10,000 diesel units each in 2025. Official statistics, however, can sometimes obscure long-term trends, especially as electrification grows. While diesel’s overall share in Germany is expected to fall to 20.3% this year, BMW’s figures remain well above that mark.

BMW’s diesel registrations have shrunk significantly over the past decade. But larger, premium models still depend heavily on diesel engines. For now, the fuel retains a stronger foothold in BMW’s lineup than in the wider German car market.