Diesel will remain a central pillar of BMW's CO2 strategy despite growing concerns in some quarters over emissions and the scandal surrounding VW's so-called defeat device.
Klaus Frohlich, board member in charge of development, said here in Munich today: "Diesel is embedded in our strategy as well as our other, newer developments such as electrification."
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Diesel currently accounts for around 80% of BMW sales in Europe.
Board member for sales and marketing, Ian Robertson, added the diesel share could reduce over time as various European markets provide incentives for people to switch to electric cars or plug-in hybrids.
He said: "The important thing is that we have the flexibility in our manufacturing operations to switch between types of engine. I still believe that diesel will be a strong part of our business in the future."
BMW executives have spoken up in defence of diesel as a key element in powertrain strategies and, in particular, meeting the EU CO2 target of average 95g/km by 2021.
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