Diesel Registrations Up 80%, Says R.l. Polk

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DIESEL REGISTRATIONS UP 80%, SAYS R.L. POLK

With oil costs shattering records and gasoline prices causing concerns nationwide, savvy American consumers are increasingly turning to diesel-powered vehicles as a fuel-sipping alternative to gasoline, according to new research released by the Diesel Technology Forum (DTF). The driving force behind this leap is that diesel engines are 20% to 40% more fuel efficient than comparable gasoline-powered engines without requiring consumers to sacrifice power or performance.
Data compiled by R.L. Polk & Co. show that registration of diesel passenger vehicles in the United States—including cars, trucks and SUVs—has grown a remarkable 80% since 2000, up from 301,000 diesel vehicles that year to 543,777 diesel registrations in 2005. For the all-important light-duty market, diesel registrations nearly doubled (95% growth) from 2000- 2005, with 31% growth coming in 2005 alone. When given a choice between a gasoline or diesel engine, consumers purchased the diesel engine option almost half the time (45%) in 2005.
"In this era of sky-high gasoline prices, Americans are increasingly looking to diesel as a readily available solution to help alleviate their pain at the pump," said Allen Schaeffer, DTF's executive director. "Gasoline hybrids and flexible-fueled ethanol vehicles aren't the only fuel efficient choices consumers have today."
Most analysts expect the diesel trend to continue due in part to rising fuel prices and the desire to improve U.S. vehicle efficiency. Researchers at J.D. Power and Associates predict that diesel sales will approximately triple in the next 10 years, accounting for more than 10% of U.S. vehicle sales by 2015—up from 3.6% in 2005.
President Bush recently proposed extending federal tax credits for the purchase of fuel efficient clean diesel vehicles. In a speech to the Renewable Fuels Association, he said that part of a good plan "to confront high gasoline prices is to promote greater fuel efficiency. Clean diesel vehicles take advantage of advances in diesel technology to run on 30% less fuel than gasoline vehicles do ... so here's an idea that can get more of these vehicles on the road, and that is to have Congress make all hybrid and clean diesel vehicles sold this year eligible for federal tax credits. We want to encourage people to make wise choices when it comes to the automobiles they drive."
It's no surprise that clean diesels are gaining so much momentum. Consider the facts:

• Diesel vehicles are much more fuel efficient, typically getting 20% to 40% more miles to the gallon than a comparable gasoline car. The federal government's 2005 Fuel Economy Guide shows that four of the top 10 most fuel-efficient vehicles are diesel powered.
• Diesel could help reduce America's addiction to oil. According to officials at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, America could save up to 1.4 million barrels of oil per day, an amount equivalent to the oil we currently import from Saudi Arabia, if one-third of U.S. cars, pickups and SUVs were diesel-powered.
• Diesels provide superior power and performance, an important feature for American drivers who want to save money at the pump without sacrificing their driving experience.
• Diesel drivers have the option of filling their tanks with blends of biodiesel, a domestically produced, renewable fuel that reduces U.S. oil dependence and contributes to our own economy.

"Those that haven't experienced the new generation of diesels are in for an awakening," concluded Schaeffer. "These cars are clean, quiet and very performance oriented—they're fun to drive while delivering 20% to 40% better real-world fuel economy than their gasoline counterparts."
For more information, including complete data from R.L. Polk & Co. and a list of diesel vehicles currently available for sale in the United States, visit www.dieselforum.org.
Source: “In Wake of High Gas Prices, Demand for Diesel Cars and SUVs Jumped 31 Percent in 2005,” Diesel Technology Forum/PR Newswire