We’ve recently discussed the position of General Motors midsize trucks with the 2020 Chevrolet Colorado. While new players such as the Ford Ranger, Jeep Gladiator, and upcoming Nissan Frontier aim at retaking a piece of that now lucrative pie, GM stands firm by skipping the Colorado’s 2020 model year mid-cycle refresh. After all, GM’s midsize trucks are selling well, so why change a winning formula?
Volkswagen, on the other hand, sees an opportunity to enter the game with something smaller, lighter, and more fuel efficient. According to VW’s Senior Vice President for Product Marketing Hein Schafer, midsize pickups have gotten so big, that they’re the size and price of full-size trucks from not too long ago. The German giant believes there could be a space for something smaller and more affordable, which is what it’s basing the product planning on for its upcoming Tarok.
For GM, selling a truck smaller and more attainable than the Colorado could, in fact, help compensate for axing so many cars, all while expanding its truck presence. Furthermore, with the recent announcement of a Ford/Volkswagen alliance, we wouldn’t be surprised if Ford is already working on a tiny truck based on VW’s MQB architecture.
That platform may be a Traverse-engine layout, but it has the advantage of being built in Mexico. Vehicles built in North America aren’t subject to the famous “chicken tax” import tariff.
Volkswagen actually presented two small/midsize truck concepts based on this architecture. The super compact Tarok, and the midsize Tanoak. If VW would go forth with the integration of a truck on U.S. soil, it would most probably do it with the Tarok, as it would be the ideal fit for a sub-$30,000 light truck. Volkswagen admits that while the Tanoak midsizer made a splash when it was revealed at the 2018 New York Auto Show, the truck would be an expensive alternative to already established nameplates like the Chevrolet Colorado or Toyota Tacoma.
Volkswagen also doesn’t want to duplicate the Honda Ridgeline’s failure at stealing consumers from those nameplates. While Honda’s truck constantly receives positive reviews from the automotive press, and proves quite competent even without a body-on-frame construction, it has failed at convincing consumers from migrating over to the big H when it comes to towing and hauling.
Our question is the following: while Volkswagen and presumably Ford are exploring new ways of penetrating the lost segment of affordable light-duty trucks, why hasn’t GM Trucks still not filled in that niche? GM is already selling the Chevrolet Montana in other markets. Bringing it over to U.S. soil would definitely help block Volkswagen’s, or better even, Ford’s plans of getting there first.
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Source: The Detroit News
Comments
Do you have any more info on why the 2020 MCE is being skipped? Or did I miss that article? Seems like a short sighted decision…
Well, the truck is basically the same for 2020 (it has been listed on the GM order guide for a couple months, not many changes for ’20), so that is likely what they’re going by.
I agree with you guys here at GM Authority that GM already having product available could tweak it and get it up to safety standards beating the others to the market possibly.
First, anything VW I will pass on, unless the truck was really just a re-badged Ford.
Second, what is it about that specific white Chevy pic that makes it look so darn nice? I’ve seen that before and don’t know what it is. A trim package? A specific model? Whatever it is, it’s the best looking Colorado they make IMO. I like it.
My first new vehicle out of college was a ’95 S10 LS 2WD with a manual transmission. It was a great little truck that I could afford as it was cheaper than a car. I have always believed there was a market for a truck like that as long it was kept up to date, kept simple and built to last. GM could still do a small truck based on the new Blazer (yeah its not BOF). Maybe even a mini Avalanche (I had one of those also) with only two doors, extended cab and jump seats.
The mid size trucks are already exploiting an area VV can not with the CUV based truck.
You may see the glass half empty I see it half full. GM can easily take a CUV platform and make a light SUT out of it to compete with the Honda and VW while maintaining the present mid size line.
As for updates GM separated from Isuzu on trucks in 2017. This means they are going their own way. They are still class leading and the time and money that would go into a minor refresh will go into a new platform.
Word has been the new platform would arrive around 2022.
Adding a bunch of features they will come in the new platform with the new GM electronic architecture. Why redo a BCM for jus one or two years?
Things will be fine as America is more a real truck market and they have it right now. This will let them dabble in the CUV with a birth defect segment as the market warrants.
Note for GM to do a SUT like VW they need a global product as like the mid size truck the global market makes them profitable on the platform development
The VW has way less hp and is so much ugly, and is basically a Ford. The colorado surpasses the VW with ease.