North Carolina Takes Top Spot for Advanced Technology Manufacturing

Almost 1 million heavy-duty diesel engines were manufactured in the U.S. in 2017 in 13 states. These engines power everything from commercial trucks and buses to large agricultural and construction equipment to much larger applications like locomotives, ferries and stationary industrial engines. Whether it’s a truck or a much larger locomotive, these new diesel engines rolling off U.S. assembly lines must be deployed with advanced emission control technologies to meet strict emission reductions requirements. When deployed in the field or on the road, these engines will help get the job done and reduce emissions for the communities where they serve.

2017 was a good year for diesel engine production. About 750,000 heavy-duty diesel engines were manufactured in 13 states in the U.S. according to data provided by Rhein & Associates. North Carolina is home to the most heavy-duty diesel engines produced in the U.S. Almost one in two of these engines were manufactured in the Tar Heel state.

Ranking	State	2017 Engine Production
#1	NC	327,500
#2	MI	109,000
#3	OH	70,000
#4	NY	67,400
#5	MD	40,000
#6	TX	29,800
#7	IA	28,750
#8	MS	28,700
#9	IN	17,235
#10	GA	12,700
#11	AL	7,200
#12	UT	1,600
#13	SC	940

 

Thanks to decades of innovation and research, these engines are the cleanest ever produced. Whether these engines power a large pickup truck or a massive ferry boat, these new diesel engines reduce emissions to near-zero levels. A new diesel commercial truck can reduce emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) by 2.3 tons per year relative to previous generations of technology while new near-zero emissions Tier 4 off-road engines that power a marine workboat can reduce 30 tons of NOx per year when replacing older engines.

While these engines are cleaner, they also power the economy. According to the Department of Commerce, economic sectors reliant on diesel-powered vehicles and equipment contributed $3.6 trillion in economic activity in the 1^st quarter of 2018. Agriculture, mining, construction and warehousing and distribution represent 1/10^th of all private sector economic activity and is roughly equivalent to all durable goods manufacturing in the U.S. 

We live in an interdependent economy. One-in-ten U.S. made diesel engines is ultimately destined for a market abroad. The U.S. is also a market for foreign made diesel engines. 1.2 million heavy-duty diesel engines were imported from abroad. Mexico, Europe, Japan and Brazil are the leading producers of heavy-duty diesel engines that power vehicles and equipment in the U.S. to keep our economy humming.

Our economy would face stress without diesel engines. Thanks to decades if innovation, these engines across the spectrum of uses, are near-zero emissions providing benefits to the communities they serve and underpinning 1/10^th of economic activity. Almost 750,000 U.S. made heavy-duty diesel engines rolled off U.S. assembly lines helping to get the job done and North Carolina was the top state for the manufacture of these advance technology diesel engines.

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Ezra Finkin
Director, Policy
efinkin@dieselforum.org
301-668-7230