Diesels have become quieter, cleaner and remain more fuel efficient than gasoline-powered vehicles. Several automakers are bringing their diesels to US markets in 2010.
Roush Performance has been selling Ford F-Series pickups converted to run on propane or both propane and gasoline to fleets for several years. Fleet manager feedback has inspired Roush to expand the lineup to Ford E-Series vans, the company says, and production will start in the first quarter of 2010.
Latest data shows that about 8 million fewer vehicles in the used vehicle market over the past two years has resulted in higher used-vehicle prices each month last year, figures not affected by modest value of those turned in by CARS program.
Fuel prices and the recession hit fullsize pickup truck sales hard. Now the federal government is pushing automakers and consumers into a new generation of small, fuel-efficient cars. Despite this, Detroit is counting on an improved construction industry to revive lagging truck sales and give a much needed boost to their bottom lines. At twenty percent of total sales, fullsize pickups represent an important market segment, one the Japanese has yet to penetrate.