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Mercedes-Benz 260 D marks 90 years of diesel passenger cars
The diesel passenger car marks 90 years since the introduction of the Mercedes-Benz 260 D (W138) in 1936. This model represented a significant shift in the automotive industry, offering a 38 percent fuel consumption advantage over comparable gasoline engines of the era.
Despite its early success and reputation for durability, the diesel engine's dominance in the passenger car market has declined significantly. Following the 2015 Volkswagen diesel scandal, the market share for non-hybrid diesel vehicles in Germany dropped to just over 10 percent by the summer of 2026. This is a sharp decrease from the period before the scandal, when nearly half of all new car registrations were diesel-powered.
Entities
Germany · Mercedes-Benz · Porsche · Rudolf Diesel · Volkswagen
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The 260 D offered a 38 percent fuel consumption advantage over comparable gasoline engines. www.fehmarn24.de · www.kurierverlag.de · www.kreiszeitung.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] Non-hybrid diesel engines accounted for just over 10 percent of new car registrations in Germany in the summer of 2026. www.fehmarn24.de · www.kurierverlag.de · www.kreiszeitung.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] The 260 D engine produced 34 kW (45 HP) and reached a maximum speed of 90 km/h. www.fehmarn24.de · www.kurierverlag.de · www.kreiszeitung.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] Prior to the 2015 Volkswagen diesel scandal, nearly half of all new cars were diesel-powered. www.fehmarn24.de · www.kurierverlag.de · www.kreiszeitung.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] Mercedes-Benz introduced the Type 260 D (W138) diesel passenger car in 1936. www.fehmarn24.de · www.kurierverlag.de · www.kreiszeitung.de