Car buyers shy away from diesel in wake of VW scandal

In the wake of Volkswagen’s diesel emissions scandal, Korean consumers are quickly shifting their attention from diesel vehicles to hybrids, according to an analysis by Hyundai Motor on Sunday.

Its study of the cars that prospective buyers requested for a test drive across 29 showrooms showed the percentage of requests for diesel vehicles fell to an average 9 percent in October from 21 percent last year. In August, just before the German carmaker scandal broke, the percentage was as high as 24 percent.

Requests for hybrid vehicles tripled in October from last year to 30 percent. Those who asked for gasoline cars edged down to 61 percent from 69 percent over the same period.

“We have decided to step up marketing for hybrids instead of diesels,” said a Hyundai Motor spokesman.

The No. 1 carmaker also decided to postpone the scheduled release of a diesel version of its premium sedan Genesis.