GM Turning to Aluminum for Next-Gen Pickup Trucks
Following Ford’s lead, GM is turning to aluminum and lightweight steel for its next-generation of pickup trucks and SUVs.
The American automaker has announced that it will be investing $877 million to overhaul its factory in Flint, Michigan, that is in charge of producing pickup trucks. The investment is part of a plan to expand a trio of U.S. truck plants, installing new assembly lines, body welding shops and paint operations to accommodate future generations of Silverado pickups and SUVs including the Chevrolet Tahoe and Cadillac Escalade.
People familiar with the automaker’s plans revealed that GM’s next-generation trucks and SUVs will use various materials, including aluminum and lightweight steel to help drop weight and improve fuel economy, similar to a move Ford made with its F-150. Of course, Chevrolet has been bashing Ford’s use of aluminum in new ads lately, but everyone has a short memory and those will be long forgotten by 2018 when Chevrolet brings a truck to market using aluminum.
SEE ALSO: Chevy Targets Aluminum Ford F-150 in New Ads
Unlike Ford however, GM plans to keep its factories running through the major model change and has no plans of taking “the whole facility down for six months and go dark in the market,” according to Cathy Clegg, head of North American manufacturing.
[Source: Reuters]
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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And yet Chevy is still airing their idiotic bear commercial with the cages. I wonder what all the Chevy fan boys making fun of Ford are going to say now?
Always a stupid move to bash the competition...as you end up calling the very customers you are hoping will come to your brand stupid for having bought the brand you are bashing, bad marketing, consumers want positive...what is your company doing to make its product more competitive?