Ah diesel! Ah France!

According to Invest in France, the country currently has a thriving automotive market, and diesel power is the preferred fuel of car buyers nationwide. “France’s thriving automotive market has the second-highest percentage of diesel engines in Europe — 71% of new cars registered are diesel-powered — making it a strategic location for engine-related research and investment,” said Philippe Favre, president of Invest in France.

The latest investors in France include U.S. automotive equipment supplier Delphi Corp., which Invest in France reports plans to expand its R&D facility in France to manufacture diesel injectors; German automotive equipment supplier Robert Bosch, which will invest $95 million in factory enhancements starting at the end of 2007 to manufacture new-generation common-rail injectors; and the Japanese automotive parts maker Ibiden, which will invest $23 million to launch a third production line at its own factory in France to provide diesel particulate filters for diesel engines.

Research and development spending for the automotive industry is a priority in France, noted Invest in France. In the future, more new and diverse diesel engine investment opportunities will arise in France in response to the need for cleaner hybrid vehicles and the launch of Euro 5/6 emission standards for cars. Foreign investors can participate in these R&D efforts and share in the benefits that result.