General Motors made a gamble by bringing the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon back from the grave, and reigniting the U.S. and Canada’s love affair with the midsize pickup truck. Being first to market with an all-new entry is certainly a competitive advantage, but will Chevrolet and GMC hold off rivals?
Obviously, Toyota and Nissan never abandoned the segment, but the trucks have gone stale in the wake of the all-new, 2016 Chevrolet Colorado and 2016 GMC Canyon. Ford is likely bringing the Ranger back into the U.S. marketplace, too. As for Fiat-Chrysler, it sounds like Jeep may be up to bat over Ram.
Fiat-Chrysler Authority already reported on a Wrangler based, midsize pickup arriving by 2018, but the latest strategy may copy GM: be first to the market in a segment. The compact truck segment, that is.
As midsize trucks grow larger, space for a compact truck definitely open up. Jeep CEO Mike Manley stirred rumors during the 2016 New York International Auto Show, stating there may be room for two pickups.
“I think there’s opportunity there in the U.S. if you look at what’s happened in the mid-size segment here – significant growth last year,” Manley said. “I think that space is big enough, certainly, to have two offerings there.”
Recent rumors also coincide with the notion of a compact pickup arriving alongside the Wrangler-based truck, too.
When we asked Chevrolet about the idea of a compact pickup truck, Sandor Piszar, Chevy truck marketing chief, stated there are always opportunities to define a segment and own it, but the brand had nothing to announce at the time. Could Jeep do what GM did with the compact segment? Competition is good for everyone, as they say.
Comments
cant wait to see the jeep pickup!
The sales numbers speak for themselves. 114,507 total in 2015 should make any competitor take note.
If Fiat lets Chrysler do the trucks they will be fine. If Fiat tries to rebody a Fiat based model into a Truck they will suffer the results.
As prices grow the mid size segment will continue to be more competitive. Ford is on the way too.
These same USA automakers abandoned this segment with many excuses just a few years ago?
I’d stick with Toyota or Nissan for midsize trucks.
There was no excuses the fact was most people went to the full size as the prices were much better for what you got.
Toyota and Nissan could not do so as they never had a full size truck that could compete.
With prices continuing to climb the new mid size is becoming the right size for many owners as most do not need the larger full size.
I would like to see them all add a smaller truck under the present mid size in the old S10 original size.
Excuses!
Ok Chevy it’s time to launch the ZR2 Colorado . Make it as difficult as possible for Jeep and Ford .
They need a special Colorado or Canyon.. tons of luxury and lower to the ground..
they do its called the camero