Which car manufacturer produced the first mass-produced diesel passenger car?

Mercedes-Benz produced the first mass-produced diesel passenger car, the Mercedes-Benz 260 D.

Introduced in the 1930s, the 260 D used a 2.5-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine known internally as the OM 138. A small pilot series appeared in 1935, and the model was presented publicly at the 1936 Berlin Motor Show. Its relatively strong fuel economy made it especially attractive to taxi operators, who valued lower running costs.

The 260 D was not the first diesel-powered vehicle overall: diesel engines had already been used in trucks, buses, marine craft, and rail vehicles. Its distinction was bringing diesel power to a passenger car built in series production. Early diesel cars faced challenges including vibration, noise, and slower performance, but Mercedes-Benz’s engineering made the technology practical enough for commercial use.

The car was produced from 1935 to 1940, with about 1,967 examples built. Later Mercedes diesel models, including the 170 D after the Second World War, helped make diesel passenger cars increasingly familiar in Europe. “Daimler-Benz” is the historical corporate name associated with the company, but the car was marketed and identified as a Mercedes-Benz 260 D.