Here in Europe all or most of the major carmakers had been infringing the "Euro N" emission protocols set by the EU. The now current Euro 6 is however quite restrictive and is in effect since 2014/2015. Despite Euro 6 being twice as permissive as EPA-standards, diesel cars emissions are actually an order of magnitude higher than most current standards, so if they remain within Euro 6 boundaries that would be great news. Apparently that is the case now for new cars in the market since Sep/2015.

NOx wasn't taken too seriously in the EU by member states until recently and many countries were not fining or prosecuting carmakers [1]. This is probably a result of hard-fought car plant concessions each member state has to make to get these valuable blue-collar jobs from going somewhere else. The mindset is changing now due to raised awareness by VW-gate but also the continuous struggle some large cities such as Paris, Madrid, London, Athens and Rome are having to keep smog levels under control [2]. So, in general, we can say the EU, public and cities are putting pressure, but states are still very lenient and reluctant and are seeking long-term exemptions [3].

I believe the EU is too dependent on heavy NOx-emitting diesel cars to take drastic regulatory measures, so diesel is being pushed out by the cities with upcoming taxation and city-limits restrictions. If the trend follows, taxation, and not regulation, will be the NOx deterrent in the coming years [4].

[1] http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-17-238_en.htm

[2] http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/paris-cuts-harmful-...

[3] http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21714991-europe-should...

[4] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/11018725/This-diese...