The new stringent 2010 emissions standards have already knocked off one of the biggest names in “on and off-road” vehicles from manufacturing one of, arguably, the best diesel engines in big-rigs. What’s even more discouraging is that while a company like CAT can, and will survive a 10% loss from this, the engine options available in on-highway trucks have more potential to become monopolized, and raise the price of their engine option(s).
For example, a quick browse of Peterbilt’s site revealed that, as of right now, the only two engine options available in their Model 389 are the Caterpillar C15 or the ISX Cummins. So, what happens when the C15 is no longer in the lineup? Does the cost of the Cummins option sky-rocket?
Hopefully in time all of the other on-highway engine manufacturers like Cummins, Detroit, International and Mercedes-Benz will keep striving to meet ever-increasing emissions demands so something like a monopoly never occurs. And, as Jason Thompson just witnessed at the DEER conference in Detroit, it is reassuring to know that each major engine manufacturer attended and revealed plans to meet future emissions standards.