NEW YORK, April 17, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Statement from Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum.
Today marks a good day for consumers who demand fuel efficiency, spirited driving performance and no-compromise on vehicle utility: the 2019 Mazda CX-5 Signature Diesel compact SUV joins nearly 50 other diesel-powered choices for American consumers in 2019. Current diesel offerings range from light-duty and heavy-duty pickup trucks to crossovers and sedans. (See the full list here)
Mazda’s Skyactiv-D technology was introduced today to the U.S. market at the New York Auto Show. This powerful, fuel-efficient vehicle represents a prime example of Mazda’s continuous innovation and improvement of the internal combustion engine. From the sounds of it, the company has more in store.
Mazda’s Skyactiv suite of technologies are a great example of why we must value consumer choice and energy efficiency in whatever form it takes. After all, we’re not a one-size-fits-all world.
Consumers choosing the 2019 Mazda CX-5 Signature Diesel will get to experience Mazda’s commitment to inspired driving performance, premiere design and engineering, along with the added confidence in knowing is among the most heavily tested and validated low-emission diesel options available today.
Diesel continues to be a popular option among U.S. consumers because it offers a unique combination of power and performance. The engine’s outstanding driving range is beyond compare in the current market, and diesel gives consumers remarkably flexible fueling options, including ready fuel availability and the option to use advanced renewable low-carbon biodiesel fuels.
According to research commissioned by the Diesel Technology Forum, diesel options in SUVs offer consumers superior fuel economy that translates into superior range. More diesel SUVs on the road also contribute to energy savings goals. If every mid-sized SUV were diesel, the U.S. would save 370 million gallons of fuel that is equivalent to about 12 percent of every car on the road today being a battery-electric.
According to data on 2018 vehicle sales provided by Baum & Assoc., diesel sales in smaller vehicles grew 9 percent in 2018, after a drop in both 2016 and 2017. Sales of Class 1-3 diesel vehicles reached their highest annual level in 2018, coming in at more than 500,000 units, or just over 3 percent of total vehicle sales in the United States. This share exceeded that of hybrid vehicles, which came in at almost 2 percent of total sales, as well as the sales of plug-in electric vehicles (plug-in hybrids and full-battery-electric vehicles combined), which came in at around 2 percent of total sales. Wards reported there were 50,000 more diesel vehicles sold in 2018 than the previous year, even as overall automobile sales in the United States were up by only 0.5 percent.
Resources for More Information
- Why Diesel? https://www.dieselforum.org/diesel-drivers/why-diesel
- Diesel Vehicles Available in the United States:https://www.dieselforum.org/diesel-drivers/clean-diesel-vehicles-available-in-the-u-s
- Information for Diesel Drivers:https://www.dieselforum.org/diesel-drivers/diesel-drivers
- U.S. Diesel Vehicle Sales Dashboard:https://www.dieselforum.org/vehiclesales/
- Diesel Fuel Locator:https://www.dieselforum.org/diesel-drivers/fuel-locator
About The Diesel Technology Forum
The Diesel Technology Forum is a non-profit 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 https://www.dieselforum.org/.
Contact:
Sarah Dirndorfer
Diesel Technology Forum
sdirndorfer@dieselforum.org
301-668-7230
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2051038a-bf18-45da-b4fd-9e26cc72eb45