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GM To Build K2-Generation Silverado, Sierra Through End Of Year?

General Motors plans to build the current K2-generation Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra through the end of the year, according to the Detroit Free Press.

The publication reported GM told its dealers production of the last-generation trucks, being sold as the Chevrolet Silverado Legacy and GMC Sierra Limited, will go through the year’s end. It’s unclear how long the program will span, but the automaker has continuously been careful about the production announcements surrounding the trucks.

2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 at 2016 LA Auto Show

In December 2017, GM CEO Mary Barra said the automaker would build 60,000 trucks per year at the Oshawa assembly plant in Ontario, Canada. The trucks’ assembly at Oshawa gave the facility a much-needed lifeline as the plant feared closure without any new product slated.

However, a GM Canada spokesperson offered up few specifics on the timeline saying, “This strategy will help us meet customer demand as we transition our production and introduce our exciting new models into the market starting later in 2018. The length of the program in Oshawa will be dependent on market demand.”

2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 High Country High Desert exterior live at 2016 LA Auto Show 002

Canadian union president Jerry Dias also admitted he didn’t know when GM would pull the plug on K2 truck production in Canada.

The previous-generation trucks also come with major incentives at dealerships. While dealers begin to receive the first 2019 Chevrolet Silverado and 2019 GMC Sierra models, GM is offering over $9,000 in rebates on the 2018 Silverado 4WD double-cab model and a lease rate of $126 per month for 24 months with $999 down. Another GMC dealer is matching a GMC incentive of $6,500 cash back to take $13,000 off the price of a 2018 Sierra SLT crew-cab.

2017 GMC Sierra Denali Ultimate 1500 exterior live at 2016 LA Auto Show 001

Stephen Gilchrist, dealer operator at Gilchrist Automotive, said many buyers come to check out the 2019 models, but end up buying a 2018 truck instead.

“The majority of the customers will come in to investigate the 2019 and end up with the 2018 because of the combination of value and great features,” said Gilchrist. “Ram is doing the same thing. It helps them ramp up and they don’t lose any sales as they are building up the new inventory.”

Former GM Authority staff writer.

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Comments

  1. The only reason to continue building the current generation and not move to the next generation is profit margin meaning the profit margin for the current platform exceeds that of the next generation platform even if sales of the older generation slows.

    Reply
    1. you may get not many likes but your 100 percent right. There is no business since whatsoever except for profit.

      Reply
  2. They are doing this because Ram is doing it and they do not want to lose the number two spot.

    Reply
  3. Ram is the truck to follow after, hopefully Chev or GM run out of their bankruptcy recall parts that seem to haunt them every year. EPA (Electronic Power Assist) has been an issue from before 2007 and still a major issue. I’m interested to see the recalls coming for 2016 models and on. We will see if the new model is really new or just new body panels. Buddy of my son’s has a 2018 Chev tranny module issues, valve train bolt came undone on the 6th cylinder leaving him on the side of the road. Shaking in the front bearings and brake assembly, air leakage under the dash, power seat issue lol he almost took it through the show room window. Lol. He then returned it to the dealer and bought a Ram and loves it and hasn’t had one problem with the Ram but keeping gas in it due to his heavy foot. Chev does have a great service department I must say. 🙂 Not liking the Rams new face though. Idk

    Reply

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