2020 YTD Class 8 Natural Gas Truck Sales Drop 22% Through May

According to ACT Research, both U.S. and Canadian Class 8 natural gas truck retail sales for the first five months of 2020 dropped 22% year-to-date over 2019, as published in its quarterly report, Alternative Fuels Quarterly.

The report, which provides insight, analysis, and trends about alternative fuel/power adoption for the U.S. heavy- and medium-duty commercial vehicle markets, details adoption considerations such as fuel prices, fuel/charging infrastructure development, equipment prices/products/technological developments, and regulatory changes. Natural gas truck sales data and a forecast for new natural gas adoption are also included.

“Sales of natural gas-powered vehicles as reported by the six major truck OEMs, who account for approximately 60% of the heavy-duty natural gas market, were almost uniformly weaker in the March to May time period,” said Steve Tam, vice president at ACT Research. “While the year started strong, year-over-year loses since February have resulted in a year-to-date decline of 22%. Through the first five months of 2020, reporting OEMs have sold about 1,100 natural gas-powered Class 8 units.”

Tam also noted that total U.S. Class 8 sales were down 38% for the same time period.