Picture this: a diesel engine, once the backbone of heavy-duty trucking, now gasping for breath in a world that’s rapidly moving away from fossil fuels. Cummins, a giant in the engine manufacturing game, thought they could ride the diesel wave a little longer with their shiny new X15 engine. But reality hit hard, and now they’re scrambling, delaying the launch like a kid postponing homework. The engine, set for early 2026, is now shoved back to late 2026 – six months of faffing about while the world moves on without them.
The writing’s been on the wall for years. Environmental regulations are tightening, and the public’s appetite for cleaner alternatives is growing. Yet, Cummins doubled down on diesel, betting on an engine that’s already outdated before it even hits the tarmac. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is rolling back some regulations, but that’s a temporary reprieve, not a lifeline. California’s strict emissions standards are still looming, and Congress’s vote to revoke them might not hold water. Cummins is playing a dangerous game of regulatory roulette, and they’re losing, badly.
Then there’s the market. Trade tariffs, freight prospects, and a general sense of caution are making truck orders plummet. Cummins’ CEO, Jennifer Rumsey, admitted that North America heavy and medium-duty truck volumes could drop by 25% to 30%. That’s not just a dip; that’s a bloody nosedive. And in this climate, launching a new diesel engine is like trying to flog ice to Eskimos. The demand just isn’t there, and Cummins knows it. They’re not blind – they’re just stubborn as hell.
Imagine being an engineer at Cummins, pouring your heart and soul into designing the X15 diesel, only to see it shelved because the world’s moved on. It’s like building a state-of-the-art VHS player in the age of streaming. The frustration must be palpable, the sense of wasted effort overwhelming. And for what? A diesel engine that’s already a relic, a dinosaur in a world racing towards electric and hydrogen power.
Cummins isn’t completely daft. They’re “working” on natural gas and hydrogen combustion engines, (honestly!). The diesel X15 was supposed to be the star of the show, the one to carry them through the next few years. Now, it’s a liability, a reminder of their refusal to let go of the past. It’s baffling, really. How could a company with such resources and expertise misread the market so spectacularly? Diesel’s been on life support for years, and yet Cummins thought they could squeeze a few more years out of it. It’s like watching a dinosaur trying to adapt to the modern world – too slow, too bloody late.
So here we are, witnessing the slow death of diesel, and Cummins is caught in the crossfire. Their X15 diesel engine, once a beacon of hope, is now a cautionary tale. A tale of clinging to the past while the future races ahead. And in this race, Cummins is lagging behind, desperately trying to catch up. But the truth is, they’ve only got themselves to blame.
Lee Thompson – Founder, The Cummins Accountability Project