As new vehicle technologies are introduced into the market their initial and overall adoption rate can vary widely. The figure below shows select technologies and their production share over time since first significant use. Fuel injection was adopted fairly quickly after its introduction nearly 40 years ago and reached 100% of the market share, completely replacing the older carburetion technology. A variation on standard port fuel injection, gasoline direct injection has grown to 30% market share in just five years as automakers strive for greater engine efficiency.

Other engine technologies, like multi-valve and variable valve timing, have also seen rapid and widespread adoption, while technologies like continuously variable transmissions and hybrid drivetrains have experienced a slower adoption rate. The recent decline in the use of lockup for automatic transmissions can be attributed to the increased use of automated manual transmissions that do not require lockup.

Vehicle Technology Penetration since Significant First Use
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Supporting Information

Vehicle Technology Penetration since First Significant Use (Market Share)
YearLockupContinuous Variable TransmissionFuel InjectionGasoline Direct InjectionMulti-ValveFront Wheel DriveVariable Valve TimingHybrid
1 0%6%0%5%7%1%0%
2 0%3%3%15%6%3%0%
37%0%4%5%21%7%5%0%
49%0%5%7%25%10%5%1%
516% 5%17%33%13%8%1%
634% 7%30%34%31%10%2%
752%0%9% 35%37%12%2%
859%0%18% 38%46%12%4%
958%0%30% 42%48%19%4%
1059%0%40% 53%53%17%3%
1158%0%55% 57%62%23%7%
1259%0%66% 59%71%29%4%
1366%0%73% 61%78%35%6%
1469%1%83% 64%82%41% 
1573%2%90% 65%83%44% 
1673%3%99% 66%85%53% 
1776%3%100% 69%84%62% 
1877%11%100% 72%81%67% 
1979%13%100% 76%85%65% 
2082%12%100% 78%84%80% 
2184%15%100% 80%82%90% 
2286%12%100% 84%87%94% 
2387%11%100% 87%87%98% 
2489% 100% 91%88%  
2588% 100% 92%88%  
2688% 100% 93%86%  
2788% 100% 97%85%  
2888% 100%  86%  
2988% 100%  83%  
3088% 100%  82%  
3188% 100%  82%  
3280% 99%  77%  
3380% 100%  81%  
3482% 100%  78%  
3579% 99%  83%  
3683% 99%  81%  
3775% 99%  78%  
38  99%  83%  
Source: Environmental Protection Agency, Light-Duty Automotive Technology, Carbon Dioxide Emissions, and Fuel Economy Trends: 1975 through 2012, EPA-420-S-13-001, March 2013.

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