Consumers continue to equate power and fuel efficiency to diesel powered pickups, like this 2016 Ram 3500 which is available with a Cummins 6.7-liter turbo diesel I6 engine.With the success of GM’s mid-size diesel trucks and more hints suggesting that Ford may be producing a diesel F-150, interest in diesel pickups continues to grow—especially in the East.
Diesel pickup registrations have risen the most in Eastern states, according to Diesel Technology Forum, which analyzed Vehicles in Operation (VIO) data compiled by IHS Automotive.
From 2014 to 2015, seven of the Top 10 states which had the largest increase in diesel pickup presence were in the East.
Maine saw the largest growth in diesel pickups at 6.9 percent, followed by South Carolina at 6.2 percent and Florida, also at 6.2 percent.
Overall, Texas has the most diesel pickups followed by California, Florida, Washington and Colorado. (Interestingly enough, California and Massachusetts are the only two states that have more hybrid vehicle registrations than diesels).
Despite negative press associated with the VW diesel emissions scandal, over 300,000 new clean diesel vehicles were registered across the country in 2015. California led the way with a 15.4 percent increase in the number of registered diesel cars and SUVs in 2015.
“California consumers are particularly interested in energy-efficiency and eco-friendly vehicle technologies which helps explain the sustained interest in clean diesel cars, trucks and SUVs – ones that provide proven energy efficiency without compromising vehicle performance or driving range,” said Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum.
FASTEST GROWTH DIESEL PICKUP TRUCKS (2014-15)
| State | % Increase
2014-2015 |
|
| 1) | Maine | + 6.96% |
| 2) | South Carolina | + 6.27% |
| 3) | Florida | + 6.19% |
| 4) | Washington | + 6.02% |
| 5) | Pennsylvania | + 5.82% |
| 6) | Idaho | + 5.47% |
| 7) | Georgia | + 5.45% |
| 8) | North Carolina | + 5.33% |
| California | + 5.33% | |
| 10) | New Hampshire | + 5.15% |
