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NEWS
American diesel sales grow 25 per cent
2014 sales figures in the USA indicate diesel is gaining ground against petrol-engined vehiclesThat bastion of 'gasoline', the United States of America, is gradually making the shift to diesel, with sales of diesel-engined vehicles up 25 per cent for the first six months of this year.
A lobby group, the Diesel Technology Forum, has released a statement to that effect, drawing on data compiled by HybridCars.com and consultants Baum and Associates.
According to the data, the 25 per cent upward adjustment in diesel vehicle sales volume for the first six months of this year is part of a continuing trend. Diesel registrations have grown by 30 per cent since 2010.
The 25 per cent gain in diesel passenger car and SUV registrations compares very favourably with the 4.2 per cent increase for the whole American market. Diesel has enjoyed rising sales volume for each of the first six months of 2014, year-on-year.
Double-digit growth during March (+39.5%), April (+60.4%) and May (+26.8%) was outstanding, but not unique to 2014, as Allen Schaeffer observed. The Executive Director of the Diesel Technology Forum was quoted in the press release pointing to similarly volatile growth patterns in earlier years.
"Sustained and mostly double-digit increases in sales each month over a four year period prove that U.S. consumers are embracing the benefits of clean diesel technology and its proven, high fuel efficiency, great driving performance, and long-term value," Schaeffer said.
"The consistently positive sales trends for clean diesel are particularly noteworthy since they have occurred over a recessionary economic period when diesel fuel prices have trended upward, and consumers have many more fuel efficient vehicle choices than ever before. Today, the clean diesel choices include 27 cars and SUVs, nine vans and 10 pickup trucks. We expect that number to nearly double in the next 18 months, and we expect that more models in more brands will only generate higher sales in the future.
"While diesel cars and pickup trucks make up only three percent of the overall U.S. vehicle market, most analysts predict continued growth in the U.S., with many believing the diesel market will double by 2018."
The data – which includes only passenger cars and SUVs, not light commercials – contrasts with the sales results during the same period for petrol-engined hybrids. With the exception of May, hybrids consistently sold in lower numbers than during the first six months of 2013.
In Australia, the situation is reversed. Diesel passenger car and SUV sales are lower for the year to date – down 1885 units – with only privately-purchased SUVs showing an uplift in sales. Hybrid sales have increased by 336 for the year so far.
While the Diesel Technology Forum nominates a stringent new fuel efficiency standard as one reason car companies are filling out their model ranges with diesel variants, neither the lobby group nor any of the other parties involved – Baum and Associates, HybridCars.com and sales statistician IHS Automotive (formerly RL Polk) – has ventured an opinion as to why diesel sales are beginning to take off in America.
Is it merely a case of supply finally meeting demand, or an expanding and divergent range of models available with diesel power stimulating demand?
Tail, meet dog.
Pictured: 2015 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel
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Written byCarsales Staff
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