When the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado was set for launch, it would be the first major reinvigoration of the segment in some time. And by the first quarter sales results, that reinvigoration is showing.
The 2015 Colorado is selling faster than any other competitor truck in the segment, spending the least days on dealer lots, even beating out the Ford F-150. Chevrolet says 19,126 Colorados were sold between January and March, and the brand has even added a third shift to keep up with the truck’s demand.
It looks like the ambitious Colorado marketing plan, which targets more than truck owners, is really paying off.
Sales have been substantially high in California and Texas, which are traditionally major markets for the Colorado’s competition. But the greatest number of all for Chevrolet? 53 percent of Colorado customers are new to the brand, with the midsize truck being their first bowtie ever.
Converting customers is much more difficult than retaining loyal ones, so that’s quite an accomplishment.
Tony Johnson, Colorado Marketing Manager, is confident the truck’s formula will lead to continued success down the road.
“Chevrolet Colorado was designed as a go-anywhere vehicle, and it is making big tracks in the midsize truck segment,” said Tony Johnson, Colorado marketing manager. “With a great design and segment-leading capabilities and efficiency, it offers customers everything they want in a midsize truck – including the things they can’t get from competitors’ trucks.”
The formula includes a wide variety of special edition models, which include the 2015 Colorado Z71 Trail Boss and the 2015 Colorado GearOn special edition. The Trail Boss beefs up the Z71’s off-road capabilities, while the GearOn special edition loads the 2015 Colorado with every piece of cargo functionality you could ever ask for through the innovative GearOn system.
We don’t expect the influx of special editions to slow down either, and we have a good gut-feeling a Colorado ZR2, with the 2.8-liter Duramax diesel engine, will join the Colorado family sooner rather than later.
Comments
Today I saw a red Colorado with the Z71 package when I was walking to class and I have to say, it was sharp looking.
I’m Not a Red type of guy nor will I ever buy a Red vehicle, but Dam did that Red on both the Colorado and Canyon make me do a Double Take!! 😉
I bought a new Colorado and love it. It’s all the good things I’ve read plus more!!
With the sales and critical success of the Colorado/Canyon there is no doubt we will see a new Ranger soon plus a Frontier.
There is no way that Ford lets sales go to it’s crosstown rivals unchecked.
I think it was always a matter of when not if.
Ford has always designed the Ranger to come here but with the new F 150 they wanted to get it done first. GM just is doing things in reverse.
Wait for the new GM Silverado, we’ll see if GM is doing things in reverse. I suspect it’ll do what the Colorado is doing today.
I think the point was that GM didn’t originally engineer these midsized trucks for NA and had to do costly re-engineering to Federalise then.
I think the basics were ok just the other details as the American market wants things the other markets do not have or want. Even if they bring the ranger here they will need to make detail changes.
I expect the full size truck to go on a diet to loose weight. Now they may not go all in on Aluminum but they will engineer them to a even lighter weight.
I also expect GM to push more for half ton buyers to move to the Colorado or the 3/4 ton to lower the burden on the hard hit CAFE on the half ton in the future. You can already see how they have stepped up the 3/4 tons with many more options like the half ton had and did not share.
The only way forward is less mass and even Ford Aluminum is not going to be enough. Size is where the lighter trucks will get hit.
The present Ranger according to the guy in charge of the program said it was legal for NA regulations and the only thing keep it out was Fords will to bring it here. The second gen may change that thinking if the Chevy continues to do well.
GM went small truck first and Ford went light large truck first. In the end they will both end up in about the same place. I think the GM going to the smaller truck first was a better move. They just need to market as well as Ford has marketed this Aluminum deal. They have people thinking like it was a big risk but in the end it was a risk but not as much as they like to claim. Aluminum has been used for years large trucks and step vans.
“… Charges Past …” ?
Takealookatmenow,
Good catch, grammar hiccup on my part. Updated to reflect.
Cheers,
Sean
Although I don’t like the “midsize” moniker, these trucks are compact, they are the RIGHT size for most people, 99% of the time. How many people have lifted 3/4 ton diesel trucks that never haul or pull anything?
I think this is the best looking truck on the road. More so than the Silverado, Ram, Canyon, Sierra and F-150. I don’t however like the cheap feeling interior. IMO it’s the one drawback it has but it’s a pretty big one unfortunately. It’s not like these trucks are cheap to buy.
I agree with you “Joe”. I bought my 2015 Colorado, crew cab, V6, short bed about three months ago and have loved it ever since. It has more room than the Tacoma or Frontier in the second row and rides a lot better. Fuel economy is about 27 on average, although I have topped out at around 33 on the highway, combines for me is around 25.5 with 80/20 highway/city split. This is all the truck most people need living in the suburbs with not a lot to tow.