Diesel passenger vehicles sales down 13% in September
Posted By RichC on October 9, 2011
As the U.S. economy tries muddle along, few new jobs are consistently being added to put Americans back to work. With confidence in the U.S. fiscal situation and our own personal finances low, it’s no surprise to see even new efficient “diesel” passenger vehicle sale struggle. According to the latest numbers, diesel passenger sales through the end of September 2011 were up 30.9% over 2010, but off 13% in the month of September compared to August.
The efficient “green” vehicle sales in general are a pretty small as a percentage of overall passenger car sales, considering the push many of us hear coming the media. Diesel accounts for only .73% of overall passenger car sales in the U.S. compared to the even smaller .17% for plug-in EVs. Even Hybrid vehicle sales seems small, coming in at only 1.68%. Perhaps the improving gasoline efficiency, less complexity and price point continues to keep Americans buying traditional gasoline powered vehicles?
Led by the Volkswagen Jetta TDI and Golf TDI, diesel vehicles have slowly inched their way up the sales charts. No U.S. automaker sold even a single diesel passenger vehicle in September of 2011.
Sales of the segment leader, the Jetta TDI, checked in at 4,158 units in September, bringing the diesel sedan’s year-to-date total to 41,083. The oil-burning Golf didn’t fare nearly as well, but its sales of 694 units in September landed the diesel hatchback in second place. In third, with 610 sales, was the diesel-fueled BMW X5 xDrive35d. And coming in fourth, with 449 units sold, was the spectacular BMW 335d.
via Diesel passenger vehicles sales slip 13% in September; VW, BMW on top.
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