As General Motors gears up to launch its 2019 Silverado Medium Duty conventional trucks – the Silverado 4500HD, 5500HD and 6500HD, it’s already preparing its next product in the commercial truck space: a Class 7 truck.
According to rumors intricately familiar with future GM product plans, the automaker is in the initial stages of exploring bringing to market a Class 7 truck in collaboration with Navistar, with which it co-developed its new Silverado Medium Duty series. That initial collaboration for medium duty trucks was termed a success between the two partners, enabling them to consider a follow-up project.
If green-lit, the medium-heavy truck would slot at the top end of Chevrolet’s recently-expanded Silverado range and have a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) anywhere between 26,000 and 33,000 pounds (11,794–14,969 kilos). Sources tell us that GM and Navistar would potentially launch their respective versions of the future Class 7 truck in the 2022 calendar year as 2023 models.
Notably, the head of GM’s U.S. Fleet division, Ed Peper, may have hinted that there is more in the works beyond a Class 4, 5 and 6 trucks in a March 2018 quote during the announcement of the Medium Duty models.
“Chevrolet’s return to the conventional cab medium duty segment is part of a multi-year strategy to earn the business and loyalty of Commercial and Government customers by expanding into new product segments, delivering innovative business solutions, superior value and an exceptional customer experience,” Peper said in a statement.
Current Class 7 trucks include the Ford F-750, Peterbilt 337 Series and HINO 338. Notably, Class 7 trucks (and above) require a Class-B commercial driver’s license (CDL) to operate in the United States.
The rumor brings up several questions, the primary ones being whether GM’s Chevrolet brand will call the upcoming Class 7 vehicle Silverado, as it did with the Class 4, 5 and 6 models, or give it an entirely new name? Another key question is what powertrain combination the potential new truck will use.
Nevertheless, it’s encouraging to see GM returning to the commercial medium and heavy truck space after a decades-long absence, even if it is via a partnership.
Moving opposite to market trends.
With four model years recommended for purchase.
This example is a former NCRS award winner.
Many automakers oppose right-to-repair laws citing cybersecurity concerns.
Breaking out the spec sheets for a comparison.
View Comments
GM should buy Navistar, period.
GM couldn't manage Truck & Bus and Detroit Diesel what makes you think they could manage Navastar. They don't know the real truck business. Medium and Heavy duty truck business is a different animal than the car business.
The fact that they had way too many things going on at the time they tried to manage Truck & Bus / Detroit Diesel, making them a very distracted organization with poor leadership and accountability practices for all employees, managers and executives in the food chain.
The new GM has proven to be a much leaner, more focused firm focused on profit-making initiatives - rather than a whole bunch of churn that ultimately sap profit.
Here's the bottom line: they are currently doing very well in commercial trucks. What makes you think they will not continue doing just that if they were to acquire Navistar? And what makes you think they wouldn't treat it as a separate division (much like Cruise) while leveraging scale economies with the rests of GM?
Considering the distraction but good car brands like Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Saturn, Geo and Hummer are no longer on the GM Portfolio, they may stand a better chance the second time around to have focus and manageability of the Commercial Fleet Sector, I really hope so, I would love to see these line of trucks be a true success in the market here in the near future.
Having come back to GM from another heavy truck OEM I can tell you that Navistar is a hot mess. With all their warranty for the failed EGR engines plus the fact they need a new engine family will cost a pretty penny. The only way to make a heavy engine family pencil is to spread costs over multiple contentents..... IE NAFTA and Europe. Navistar has zero European presence and a mirrage with Volkswagen makes more sense. Volkswagen has asperations of competing with Volvo
And Daimler which have European and US heavy truck sales. Both those guys share big bore engine families in the USA and Europe...... also add the fact Volkswagen bought a
Stake in Navistar. Once Volkswagen gets their house back in order post emissions scandal they will probably complete their purchase of Navistar.
So another American company possibly brought to a foreign company. But you dont like that GM like i said previously should buy Navistar. GM if brought them, can operate it as a separate division, but using the duramax-allison combo on ther trucks. Excuse my english, its not my first language.
VW is in the process of spinning their truck division off. the new company will go by the name 'Traton'. Traton might make a move on Navistar, but I don't see it happening until the spin-off is complete.
Navistar has been doing much better since giving up on their own EGR engines. Thier trucks now use Cummins or their own new A26 big bore diesel, which is a modified license-built version of a MAN engine.
Bring back BISON or BRUIN or any of those old cattle names that GM used to use on Chevrolet heavy trucks.
This has been rumored for a while as Navistar replaces their Durastar and Workstar lineup with a Class 7/8 truck.
I think it's an excellent partnership for both companies. With the current booming economy, demand for Class 7/8 trucks (and drivers) are very high. Many manufacturers have a backlog right now.
I think 2023 is WAY too far away for a launch date though.
GM should bring these Bison Generals and Brigadiers back into the market with updated technology and engines. That would really be great. A very costly investment, but great! Or buy Navistar and just begin New Heavy Duty 7500, 8500, & 9500 Series truck development.
This is a great move by GM! If you look at this long term, AVs are not just for the private sector, it’s for all travel including the trucking/freight industry. It will be an easier sell and adoption when you already have skin in the game (fleet profile) than just selling AV technology to the established players. Big business for big thinkers!
i drove for detroit chevrolet gear&axle GM Trucks were some of the best .They gave the industry what they wanted (Power)
Any news or fresh rumors on this? Have not heard anything in better than 6 months. Navistar is working on a new plant in San Antonio.