On Wednesday, General Motors sunk another $150 million into the Flint assembly plant in Michigan. The investment will help produce thousands more 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD and 2020 GMC Sierra HD models per year, but the first pickups are already on their way to dealers.
GM said in an investment announcement that the first production Silverado HD and Sierra HD models will begin shipping out this week, which should make for arrival sometime next week. It’s not clear which markets GM has targeted first with the pickups’ launch, but we imagine local dealers will likely be some of the first to receive the pickups in the Michigan area.
The shipments come after GM announced it would bring on 1,000 new workers to build the HD pickups this past February. Now, the plant employs 5,000 workers. The added investment solidifies the plant’s future and the Flint mayor called it a “big freaking deal.”
The Flint assembly plant will be able to build an extra 40,000 HD pickups with the investment, which GM hopes will help both Chevrolet and GMC increase market share in the increasingly competitive HD truck market.
For the time being, the plant will run as usual while the work to increase production at the plant begins. Specifically, the plant will receive improvements to the conveyors and other tooling to increase production capacity.
GM added that dealers will continue to build their inventory of Silverado HD and Sierra HD models throughout the remainder of 2019.
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Comments
Good to hear. I didn’t think the 6.6L V8 gas motor was ready yet. These rigs will be a success despite the goofy front end on most Silverado models. It’s almost as strange looking as the Ford Super Duty was 4-5 years ago.
I think Chevrolet and GMC got the fundamentals down, but they need to revisit the interior dash layout (to accommodate a larger screen UI) and the front end styling on the lower/mid tier Silverado trim levels.
Chevrolet now has the highest tow rating in its class and a proven diesel engine. That’s impressive.
A proven diesel engine with a new and fairly uncertain in house trans……
These all new heavy duty pickups now have their own distinctive styling, rather than just looking like modified light duty pickups with a heavy duty chassis. With these impressive looks, I believe these trucks will post significant sales gains as production ramps up.
Now that these trucks have great styling, I believe many non heavy duty truck buyers will also drive sales much higher.
They look like a 1981 Kodiak. Don’t take my word for it, look it up. GM styling is in the tank these days, they just can’t get a front end right anymore.
The Unimog is still the ugliest thing out there when it comes to trucks, but if a lot of people could afford one, they would buy it based on it’s ruggedness and everyday reliability, I suspect in most cases, you’ll have the same customers who won’t make a big fuss about the looks other than what they are expecting from it on a daily basis.
The front looks like the Family Truckster from National Lampoon’s Family vacation. I didn’t think it was possible to make something uglier than a new Camaro. Congratulations GM…..you did it.
I’ll keep my 2016 2500hd until they do something about the hideous front end. It usually takes a couple years before Chevy design team can get the looks right.
Best looking truck on the market now by far. I applaud Chevrolet for pushing the design envelope and not sticking with the same boring designs. Many of the negative posters will change their minds when they see this thing in person and the old model starts looking….old
Once again Gm DROPPED the ball I hate to say it but I dont these trucks are going to get us out of 3 place in the HD market I don’t know why Gm thought this shock an ah styling was going to get new customers or keep the old ones
Early 1960’s with the “Cat Eyes” above the grill.
Nothing says work truck more than a COE, so its natural GM went this route to differentiate things.
Current stuff from everyone is looking too “cartoonish”.
History will note the massive influence the movie “Transformers” had on GM’s styling the past 10 years.
Has anyone seen a 2020 AT4 HD hit the dealership yet?