The 2016 Chevrolet Colorado and 2016 GMC Canyon continue to be an unfolding success story for both brands, and parent company, General Motors. After both trucks left for greener pastures in 2012, 2015 saw their return with a completely refocused target market, and aggressive content strategy.
Automotive News highlights this success story, showing industry analysts now praising the gamble GM took with its midsize pickups.
“Everyone thought that the Colorado might eat into Silverado sales,” IHS analyst Tom Libby said. “That hasn’t happened.”
The Silverado and Sierra twins make big money for GM, but neither the Colorado or Canyon have cannibalized their full-size brethren. In fact, the midsize trucks have swayed more Ford F-150 and Toyota Tacoma buyers than either brand initially expected. The conquest rate sits at a massive 56-percent for the GMC Canyon, and nearly 50-percent for the Chevy Colorado.
Other noteworthy factoids paint a clear picture. GM’s strategy has been a roaring success.
- Average transaction prices top once-segment leaders by thousands of dollars.
- Accessories continue to grow dealer and GM profits, with 40-percent of Colorados outfitted with bike racks and other gear.
- Both trucks have experienced substantial growth in California, typically a tough sell for GM.
The growth in California is intriguing, and shows the success of Colorado and Canyon’s marketing strategy. GM took a more “lifestyle” approach, appealing to outdoor enthusiasts and a more active demographic. The numbers don’t lie: it’s working. The average age of a Colorado buyer has dropped five years, and 10-percent of buyers are under the age of 35. 40-percent of them hold college degrees.
GM isn’t slowing down, either. It seems with each passing auto show, a new special edition of trim package is unveiled, subsequently hitting refresh over and over to create continued excitement in the marketplace. Simply put, the Colorado and Canyon twins are one hefty portion of a winning chicken dinner.
Comments
Very good on GM for taking this calculated risk. The pleasant surprise is that it is not taking anything away from the Silverado and Sierra.
They just have to keep the momentum going with more variants (ZR2, Trailboss, Extreme, etc.) plus figure a way to efficiently increase production volume.
Also the competition is going to get a lot more intense. I expect Ford, Nissan, Mazda, Hyundai, Ram and maybe even Honda to join the fight in the next couple of years.
Do wish the GMC had Heads Up Display on their trucks, big and medium size!!!
I think they are great trucks. Wish they had expanded the model availability. I’d buy one if I could get a sport model like a ZQ8 with a regular cab. Need to have the V6 and a 6 speed manual too. I have no use for the extra passenger space-have an SUV and a sedan for that. Looks like I’ll end up with a Silverado and auto trans…….
…so affordable, too. Lol, wish I could afford one
Get a Job!
No need for that.
Get over it.
Nothings cheap anymore and you are not going to get a truck this size much cheaper from anyone.
Everyone wants to make a lot of money and we all have to pay for it with higher prices.
Everyone wants to be a millionaire but they all want to shop at Walmart.
I really never saw this as being as large of a risk as some like to make it out to be. The fact is the segment has little in it other than Toyota and their very old truck.
I figured at worst they would pick up the GM fans who have been waiting for a new smaller truck and do ok with that alone. What ever they picked up from the others was just a bonus.
In the end this has gone even better than hoped.
I like Barry would love to see GMC with the Heads Up, Who knows the Denali may get it?
I too would love to see a 2.0 Turbo in a standard cab ZQ8. The tuner crowd lost their small trucks and have nothing to work with. The Turbo would be so very easy to add up to 400 HP with not even opening the engine up. Also the less weight would make it handle better.
I’m one of those potential Tacoma buyers who bought a 2016 4WD SLT Canyon Crewcab instead. I had originally planned to purchase a 2016 Tacoma, but the more I saw of it, the less I liked it. The transformer-like exterior looks like something out of a kid’s toy box, and the “improved” interior isn’t even in the same league as the Canyon. I loved my 2008 Tundra Limited, but I’m not enough of a Toyota loyalist to buy what I felt was an inferior product. The Canyon is much more comfortable, looks better, rides better, has more power, and is quieter than the Tacoma. Besides, according to Toyota’s massive new ad campaign, you don’t belong in a Tacoma if you are over 25.
I am dearly enjoying my new Colorado! It’s just what I wanted! Love to drive it as it fits me perfectly body, mind and soul!
I’m short though, and have a bit of a struggle getting up in it. Wish they had put pull up handle on drivers side.
If I wish Americans would not buy Toyota due to the ISIS people driving them who hate us so much. I think due to this, I would not want to be seen in one of them period…..
Odd, isn’t it, that Toyota mid sized trucks are so popular with the Taliban, Al Queda and now ISIS?
Doesn’t it seem like the CIA, etc, could track where these bad boys are getting their Toyotas, and then trace where they’re going, and find the hornet’s nest? I’m sure there are five levels of purchase/pass off to get the trucks from a ‘dealership’ to where they’re
going – but it seems entirely do-able.
John Oliver’s weekly HBO week in review show was wondering, a few weeks back, why terrorists seem to prefer Toyota trucks (usually white) –
there was a caravan of them with gun-toting baddies overloaded in the back.
Find out where they get their trucks, follow the trail back. Or find out wherever Toyota parts are shipped to in Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Afghanistan. I’d guess they’re experts at keeping their trucks running in desert heat/dust/sand storms. I doubt Toyota is a conspirator, so they’d hopefully cooperate.
Absolutely perfect idea!!!! How come those who are suppose to be so smart couldn’t come up with your idea! Don’t answer!!!! Its like everything else, we fail to act or think fast enough. I couldn’t buy one,
I’ll tell you that!
Sorry – to stay on topic …
The new Colorado was first built and intro’d in Thailand. Second-biggest pickup market in the world, after the U.S. (we were told). They need to drive their stuff to market, and need the smaller size to negotiate roads.
I bet there is still a compact truck market out there still driving their old S10s. All those businesses looking for a little parts/delivery, run around vehicle.
I agree with you