Natural gas vehicle production and sales declined in 2015 compared to 2014, mostly as a result of the reduced cost of petroleum, Matthew Godlewski, president of NGVAmerica, told an audience at the Work Truck Show.

While overall use and sales of natural gas vehicles were down, particularly for the light-duty segment, which saw a significant drop, and the medium-duty segment, which declined, but at a lesser rate, according to Godlewski.

Heavy-duty natural gas vehicle sales were flat in spite of lower petroleum fuel sales thanks to the ongoing, solid growth within the refuse and transit markets, which are the primary buyers of natural gas vehicles, according to Godlewski.

Other bright spots for the natural gas vehicle market is the continuing, steady growth of natural gas station infrastructure and several new natural gas engines, which will be launched in 2016, according to Godlewski.

Godlewski spoke on March 1 at the Green Truck Summit, which is held in conjunction with the NTEA Work Truck Show. NGVAmerica is a national organization dedicated to the development of a market for vehicles powered by natural gas or biomethane.