California, Texas and Florida continue to lead U.S. in clean diesel and hybrid vehicle registrations

Despite lower gasoline and diesel fuel prices in the second half of 2014, the registrations of fuel-efficient clean diesel and hybrid cars and SUVs both showed double-digit increases in vehicle registrations in 2014, according to the latest data compiled by IHS Automotive for the Diesel Technology Forum.

Clean diesel cars and SUVs showed an increase of 13.5 percent in 2014 over 2013, and hybrid cars and SUVs increased by 15.1 percent.

The new data was unveiled by Allen Schaeffer, the Executive Director of the Diesel Technology Forum at a luncheon with the International Motor Press Association in New York City.

The new analysis is based on data that includes the registration statistics of all passenger vehicles – cars, SUVs, pickup trucks and vans – that were compiled by IHS Automotive in all 50 states and the District of Columbia through Dec. 31, 2014.

“Clean diesel cars, trucks and SUVs typically achieve an impressive 20 to 40 percent improvement in fuel economy and 10 to 20 percent reduction in emissions when compared to a similar gasoline powered vehicles,” Schaeffer said. “This fuel economy advantage is a major factor in the steady increases we’ve seen in diesel vehicle sales and registrations since 2010.

“Just as important is the fact that automakers are introducing more diesel-powered models every year and consumers are warming up to the efficiency and unique characteristics of the powertrain. In fact, many drivers report fuel economy benefits that consistently rival a hybrid.

“While diesel passenger vehicles currently make up a modest 2.88 percent of the entire U.S. vehicle market, consensus forecasts predict that diesel cars, pickups and SUVs will comprise about 7 percent of the market by 2020 or just over 1 million diesel-powered cars and trucks on the road,” Schaeffer said.

California, Massachusetts & Nevada Show Fastest Growth in Diesel Car Registrations

According to the IHS Automotive data, California (+23.74 percent), Massachusetts (+21.01 percent) and Nevada (+17.76 percent) lead the nation with the fast growing registrations for clean diesel cars and SUVs (2014 vs. 2013).

Texas, California & Florida Have the Most Diesel Vehicles

Large population states Texas (893,553), California (650,252) and Florida (333,593) are the top states with the highest number of diesel car, SUV, pickup truck and van registrations. These three states also were the top states in 2013 registrations.

California is the only state in the U.S. that has more hybrid registrations (826,468) than diesel registrations. All 50 states and the District of Columbia showed increases in diesel registrations and hybrid registrations in 2014 compared to 2013 – except Georgia which showed a 4.6 decrease in hybrid registrations.

7.4 Million Diesel & 3.2 Million Hybrid Passenger Vehicles Now Registered in U.S.

Diesel car, SUV, pickup truck and van registrations reached 7.4 million in 2014 – an increase of 360,121 over 2013. Hybrid vehicle registrations jumped 427,302 for a total of 3.2 million total registrations.

Diesel car and SUV registrations have increased 47.6 percent since 2010 and hybrid car and SUV registrations increased 89.4 percent. The overall car and SUV market increased only 6.4 percent during the same period.

Western States Wyoming, Montana & Idaho Continue to Have Highest Percentage of Diesels

Western states like Wyoming (11.0 percent), Montana (8.3 percent) and Idaho (7.1 percent) have the highest percentage of diesel vehicle registrations. In fact, all of the Top 10 states with the highest percentage of diesel vehicles are West of the Mississippi River.

Diesel Pickup Truck Registrations Show Growth across the Map

North Dakota (+8.60 percent), South Carolina (+8.11 percent) and the District of Columbia lead all states in the growth of diesel pickup truck registrations in 2014 over 2013.

Diesel & Hybrid Registrations Are Both Increasing

California leads the nation with more than 1.47 million combined hybrid and diesel registrations followed by Texas (1 million) and Florida (512,456). The state of Washington with 379,785 and New York (346,875) round out the Top 5 diesel-hybrid states.