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Diesel is Back in a Big Way on U.S. Roads
Green Technology Featured Articles
August 01, 2012

Diesel is Back in a Big Way on U.S. Roads

By Cheryl Kaften
TMCnet Contributor

During the first six months of 2012, clean diesel car sales in the United States increased 27.5 percent, according to sales data compiled by HybridCars.Com and the West Bloomfield, Michigan research firm Baum and Associates. Seeing a trend, automakers have 15 new clean diesel models designated to roll out in the United States within the next two years.


In the second quarter of 2012, U.S. sales of clean diesel autos increased 22.3 percent in June over June 2011, 14.4 percent in May, and 28.2 percent in April.

During the first six months of 2012, U.S. hybrid car sales increased 63.5 percent and the overall automobile market increased 14.9 percent, according to the new sales information.

“The 27.5 percent increase reflects the emerging market for clean diesel automobiles in the United States,” said Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum, an industry group based in Frederick, Maryland. “While clean diesel auto and light truck sales total about three percent of the total U.S. passenger car market, the steady double-digit monthly sales increases show a definite trend of interest in diesels.

“Despite some volatility in the auto market,” he continued, “clean diesel auto sales have increased in 22 of the past 23 months with double-digit increases in 20 of those months. And diesel auto sales increased by more than 30 percent in 12 of these months. While this is significantly less than the 50 percent diesel sales rate in Europe, it does indicate that Americans are taking a renewed interest as more diesels are being introduced into the U.S. market.”

Schaeffer said some of the major highlights of the 2012 clean diesel auto market include the following sales figures:

  • In June, Audi TDI (News - Alert) diesel models comprised 64.8 percent of overall Audi A3 models and 37.1 percent of overall Audi Q7 sales
  • Purchases of Mercedes’ BlueTEC diesel models in June were up 50.3 percent for the year, compared to the same period last year
  • The Volkswagen’s Passat TDI clean diesel accounted for 21 percent of the midsize sedan's sales in June.

According to a recent study by Boulder, Colorado-based Pike Research (News - Alert), rising fuel prices and stronger fuel economy regulations will stimulate increasing global demand for clean diesel vehicles. Pike forecasts that sales of these clean diesel vehicles will increase from 9.1 million in 2012 to 12.1 million annually by 2018, with clean diesels representing 12.4 percent of all light-duty vehicle sales by the end of that period.

Pike also predicts that the growth of diesel light duty vehicles will be especially strong in North America, with annual sales expected to increase from 282,000 vehicles in 2012 to 928,000 by 2018.

According to Pike, modern diesel vehicles have undergone a major transformation in their emissions profiles in recent years. The research firm says that diesel vehicles that meet current U.S. and European Union standards have “dramatically lower” nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter emissions than 20 years ago, earning them the name “clean diesels.”

What’s more, a diesel vehicle typically gets 20 to 40 percent better fuel economy than a comparable gasoline vehicle. This factor has made diesel cars tremendously popular in Europe, where they have accounted for around 50 percent of light-duty vehicle (LDV) sales over the past several years.

In addition to the recent addition of the 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI diesel and 2012 Porsche Cayenne diesel, Schaeffer said a number of additional diesels will be available within the next 12 months in America, including:

  • Audi A6, A8 and Q5 TDI clean diesels
  • A BMW 2.0-liter four cylinder diesel and 3.0-liter inline six diesel engine
  • Ford’s diesel Transit full-size commercial van
  • General Motors’ Cadillac ATS diesel and a diesel version of the Chevrolet Cruze
  • Mazda’s SKYACTIV-D 2.2-liter clean diesel engine
  • Mercedes’ S350 BlueTEC
  • Vokswagen’s TDI diesel version Beetle.

Schaeffer said that the new U.S. fuel efficiency standards—which will require a 54.5 miles-per-gallon average by 2025 —also will drive clean diesel auto sales.

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Edited by Braden Becker


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