Both General Motors and Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles have major product launches this year with full-size trucks entering the market. The 2019 Chevrolet Silverado and 2019 GMC Sierra will hit the market this fall, while the 2019 Ram 1500 begins to trickle into dealers now.
On Tuesday, FCA announced it would take a page from GM’s strategy and continue building the previous-generation Ram 1500. The model will be called the Ram 1500 Classic and the automaker will target entry-level and commercial buyers with the new pickup.
Last December, we learned GM’s Oshawa assembly plant would build the previous-generation Silverado and Sierra (K2) models. Chevrolet will call the truck the Silverado Legacy, and GMC will call its truck the Sierra Limited. The strategy will help GM ensure a supply of full-size pickups as GM launches the next-generation T1 pickups.
Oshawa will build around 60,000 trucks per year, GM CEO Mary Barra previously noted.
At FCA, the move to sell the Ram 1500 Classic will allow production to continue at the Warren Truck assembly plant and Saltillo Truck Assembly. Eventually, all Ram 1500s will be built at the Sterling Heights assembly plant.
Comments
I do believe FCA made this announcement prior to GM, to try and take a bite out of GM’s sales advantage over the Ram which has been gaining ground lately.
No?
More like they slap ‘classic’ on leftover 2018’s and call them 2019’s.