Brent Snavely,

Chrysler is doubling production of the diesel engine version of its Ram 1500 EcoDiesel pickup.

Chrysler is making 250 pickups per day with the EcoDiesel engine at Warren Truck Assembly.

Chrysler said today it will increase production of its Ram 1500 Eco Diesel from 10% to 20% of all light-duty pickups it makes.

While most automakers offer diesel engines on their heavy duty trucks, Ram is the only one offering a diesel engine for its light-duty pickups.

"Innovation sometimes comes with risk, but being first to market with a diesel engine for the half-ton segment has shown to be a great decision for the Ram Brand," Bob Hegbloom, Ram's chief executive said.

So far this year Ram sales are increasing faster than competing pickups, and the diesel engine option is helping fuel those sales. Ram 1500 sales are up 21% through August while Ford's F-150 has slipped 0.4% and Chevrolet Silverado sales has edged up 1%.

"Chrysler's Ram division has been on a tear as the truck market heats up, and the company tries to take advantage of Ford being in transition between its old and new F-Series," said Michelle Krebs, senior analyst at AutoTrader.com. "In fact, Chrysler is running into capacity constraints with a number of models."

Curt Towne, plant manager at Warren Truck assembly plant, said last week that Chrysler is making 250 trucks with diesel engines per day — far more than the 100 per day the plant was initially making.

"The Ram 1500 EcoDiesel is a game-changer in the industry, and has proved to be a key to conquest sales over our competitors," Hegbloom said.

According to Chrysler, 60% of all Ram 1500 EcoDiesel buyers previously owned a pickup truck made by a competitor.

Customers are embracing the EcoDiesel because truck buyers like the higher torque and better fuel economy they can get from the engine even though it costs more than a gas engine and diesel costs more than gasoline. Diesel engines generally get 30% to 35% better fuel economy than a gasoline engine of comparable power.

A Ram with an EcoDiesel engine costs about $2,850 more than a 5.7-liter Hemi V8.

The 3.0-liter diesel engine generates 240 horsepower and 420 pound feet of torque and gets 28 miles per gallon on the highway.

Contact Brent Snavely: 313-222-6512 or bsnavely@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrentSnavely.