Clean Diesel Power for Half-Ton Ram Pick-Up Trucks A Valentine's Day Gift for Diesel Lovers

"This has already been an amazing year for the growth of clean diesel vehicles in the U.S. and it just keeps getting more remarkable. And this is just the middle of February."

- Allen Schaeffer, Executive Director, Diesel Technology Forum

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Ram Truck's announcement today that it will introduce a 2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel pickup truck in the United States is launching a new period of expansion for clean diesel light duty trucks in North America, said Allen Schaeffer, the Executive Director of the Diesel Technology Forum.

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"The new 2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel truck makes a bold statement about the future for modern clean diesel technology in the highly popular half-ton line of trucks," Schaeffer said.  "There is no doubt that the torque, range and fuel-efficiency from the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel engine will be extremely popular in the U.S. light duty truck market.

"Diesel power has always had a strong and loyal following among truck owners due to its numerous advantages over gasoline and other fuel sources and the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel will expand this growth into the light duty sector.

Audi, VW, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler, Ford and Chevy Announce Diesel Expansion in U.S.

"This has already been an amazing year for the growth of clean diesel vehicles in the U.S. and it just keeps getting more remarkable," Schaeffer said.  "And this is just the middle of February.

"We've already seen Audi announce its expansion with four new clean diesels for the U.S. this year along with Volkswagen demonstrating its diesel/plug-in hybrid CrossBlue S.U.V. concept car.

"Mazda has announced it will become the only Asian automaker with a clean diesel car in the U.S. when it launches its award-winning SKYACTIV-D diesel technology in its 2014 Mazda 6.

"In addition, Mercedes-Benz has announced it new 2013 Mercedes-Benz ML250 BlueTEC SUV diesel that will be powered by 4MATIC all-wheel drive. Ford has stated its new 2014 Transit diesel van will make its U.S. debut later this year and the 2014 Chevy Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel was introduced last week at the Chicago Auto Show.

"And in addition to today's Ram 1500 diesel announcement, Chrysler has also unveiled its new 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel and introduced its new full-size ProMaster van that will also offer an EcoDiesel powertrain."

Bosch Predicts More Than 50 New Clean Diesels By 2017

Schaeffer said with automakers set to introduce more than 20 new clean diesel vehicles in North America this year, consumers will have almost double the number of choices currently available.

Clean diesel auto sales increased by 24 percent in 2012 over 2011, while the overall U.S. auto market increased by 13.5 percent.  Bosch, a leading global technology supplier that supplies clean diesel engines for numerous U.S. and international automakers, predicts that 22 new clean diesel vehicles will be introduced in the U.S. this year and more than 50 new diesels will reach the U.S. market by 2017, Schaeffer said.

"In Europe, more than 50 percent of new auto sales are diesel vehicles," Schaeffer said. "Many auto analysts predict that U.S. diesel sales will increase from a modest three percent to as much as 10 percent by 2020."

(See a list of all the currently available diesel passenger vehicles in the United States.)

ABOUT THE DIESEL TECHNOLOGY FORUM
The Diesel Technology Forum is a non-profit national organization dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of diesel engines, fuel and technology. Forum members are leaders in clean diesel technology and represent the three key elements of the modern clean-diesel system: advanced engines, vehicles and equipment, cleaner diesel fuel and emissions-control systems. For more information visit www.dieselforum.org.

(View this press release online here.)

Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link.
Allen Schaeffer
ProfNet - http://www.profnetconnect.com/Schaeffer

Contact:
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SOURCE Diesel Technology Forum