I don't know about in the UK, but in France for years now there have been substantial incentives to buy diesel cars. The blinkered obsession with CO2 pollution because of global warming has led to the promotion of diesels whilst completely ignoring the highly noxious and harmful effects associated with some diesel emissions.
Over here there is an emissions tax payable on new cars which is entirely CO2 related. This favours diesels over petrol engined cars other than hybrids
Company car tax is still based on CO2 emissions alone (tho' there is now a small surcharge for the car being a diesel) which massively favours the purchase of diesels over petrol engined cars other than hybrids.
I can claim VAT back on diesel but not on petrol.
