Sify. Diesel car sales in India are projected to grow by 50% by 2010, keeping pace with a revival of this segment globally (with the exception of the US).

A top official of Mico, an auto component major, told Business Line the current market share of diesel cars is around 31 per cent which is expected to rise to 45 per cent by 2010.

“We foresee, with current market trends in India and globally, a diesel share of around 45 per cent in 2010 in the cars and multi-utility vehicle segment,” the official said.

Europe, which embraced diesel earlier than other markets, will see its share growing from 46 per cent to 55 per cent by 2010, according to current trends.

Three years ago, share of the diesel car market in Europe was a mere 12 - 14 per cent. “We will see a huge demand for diesel cars in India soon,” the Tata Motors Vice-President for commercial passenger car business unit, Rajiv Dube, said. He said the demand will be fueled more by the fact that diesel engines are at least 35 per cent more fuel efficient than gasoline.

According to a JD Power report, global diesel light vehicle sales will increase from 12.5 million in 2003 to 27 million by 2015 with India and South Korea being the drivers behind this growth in Asia.

India is also being quite aggressive (along with partners such as DaimlerChrysler) in working with biodiesel as a fuel.