Cummins Celebrates 1,000,000th Diesel Engine for Dodge Ram

Cummins Inc. celebrated the shipment of its one millionth diesel engine for the Dodge Ram pickup on May 9th, highlighting fifteen years of partnership with the Chrysler Group. The Chrysler Group began offering the Cummins engine in the 1989 model year and the turbo diesel engine’s popularity has been growing ever since.
“We are thrilled to reach this milestone in our partnership with the Chrysler Group,” said Joe Loughrey, Cummins President – Engine Business. “The Cummins/Dodge combination has proven that the market for diesel power not only exists, but continues to grow in North America.”
Since 1998, the diesel heavy-duty pickup market has outpaced gas-powered pickups, growing over 25%, according to R.L. Polk registrations. The popularity of the Dodge Ram has grown as well. The all-new 2003 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty pickup truck, available with the Cummins Turbo Diesel and the Dodge HEMI Magnum, recently was named Motor Trend magazine’s Truck Of The Year.
“We believe that there are terrific growth opportunities in this market, not only with the Dodge Ram, but in other light duty applications as well,” said Loughrey. “As fuel prices and environmental concerns continue to rise and our clean diesel technology continues to evolve, consumers will gravitate to the unmatched fuel economy, power and performance that only a Cummins diesel engine can offer.”
Since 1989, the Cummins diesel engine has increased 91% in horsepower and 39% in torque. Today, the Cummins powered Dodge Ram 3500 has the highest gross combined weight rating (total of truck, contents and trailer weight) of 23,000 pounds.
Highlighting the durability of the Cummins Turbo Diesel, Tom Olding, owner of a million-mile 1995 Cummins-powered Dodge Ram, showed off his engine and truck. Olding, who delivers Airstream trailers throughout the US, recently surpassed 1,000,000 miles on his truck with the original engine and many other components.
The milestone millionth Cummins Turbo Diesel will be installed in a special Dodge Ram 3500 as the prize in a 2003 Dodge Rodeo sweepstakes, to be awarded at the U.S. National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas in December. The truck and the engine will be specially badged to mark it as the 1,000,000th engine.