As some GM Authority readers have noticed, the GM truck and SUV lineup comes with a “shark fin” antenna mounted on the roof just above the driver’s seat, creating an asymmetric design. This somewhat lopsided antenna placement can be seen across numerous nameplates and segments, including the latest Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, Chevrolet Suburban, and Chevrolet Tahoe, among others. So what’s the reasoning behind the asymmetric antenna placement?
According to sources familiar with the project, it all comes down to vehicle assembly ergonomics. In order to place the antenna more centrally on a given vehicle’s roof, General Motors would require a new “ergonomic chair” that would give an assembly line operator access to the top center of the vehicle during the assembly process of the various GM truck and SUV models.
To note, the “ergonomic chair” we reference here is essentially a piece of equipment that an assembly line worker sits in, which moves the operator into position to install various components on a vehicle.
What’s more, there are historic items in place on the assembly line which dictate that an asymmetric, front-located antenna makes additional financial sense.
For now, it seems like the lopsided antenna position on GM trucks and SUVs will stay as is.
At the end of the day, General Motors is a business, and as such, it decided to spend money in areas deemed more important to the final product. While The General could have move the antenna position on the various GM trucks and SUVs to a more centrally located position on the vehicle, it decided to spend money on features that matter far more to the customer.
Back in October of last year, we posted a poll asking GM Authority readers if the antenna on the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado and 2019 GMC Sierra was mounted in the wrong place. The results of that poll indicate a somewhat even split between folks who think the antenna looks fine where it is above the driver’s seat, and others who think it looks odd with the asymmetric layout.
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Comments
Shocker. GM being cheap Lol
How about you make the antenna part of the Glass like the Vette. Oh yeah, that would make too much sense but it costs more.
I dont see a problem with the shark fin antenna to me the radio antenna is the one that looks out of place
Agreed that the Shark Fin looks much, much better but the Placement GM utilizes looks ridiculous.
Because it’s a pickup truck not a sports car so people are much more conscious of repair costs, and a truck’s windshield is probably much more likely to be broken due to how it’s used.
As the article says, they used money for something more important. Just cause they’re a big company does not mean there is unlimited money.
My 1975 Camaro had the antenna sandwiched in the front windshield!
my 1978 Camaro have it in the windshield I thought it was great no more power antenna motor is to burn out no antenna standing up on the fender for people to snap off. I thought it was one thing that GM did good antenna in the windshield yes
Seriously? People are complaining about the location of an antenna? Does it work? Yes? Enough said. Personally, I would rather GM figure out how to get reception in an underpass or in the Pacific Northwest mountains where I frequently find myself.
Pretty lame but GM is not the only one doing this.
They must have a better Chair in Wentzville as the Canyon and Colorado have it centered in the back. Lol!
I would say this is not the full story but who would make this one up?
@C8.R
It’s only due to them being Cheap. So unnecessary.
Like I pointed out GM is not the only one doing this. They all are or have done this.
Does it really matter??????? It works perfectly fine and looks fine…..
I would think it’s because they only need one antenna and goes over left front corner of cab. If they centered it in back of crew cab, they would need longer wire or have slack to roll up on regular cabs and extended cabs. This way it’s one size fits all.
So no wasting of money is the reason then, the wife would love that. More for her! ?
I think part of the reason is durability too.
Ever had to rest things on the rear of the cab on an angle? We do that quite a bit in our work trucks.
Another thing, ever had people in the bed of your truck? The roof makes a decent temporary seat….I’m sure most people don’t want a shark fin up their a$$.
Why not put it up front? might interfere with the sunroof/clearance lights on HD trucks.
It is somewhat appalling that management would allow the bean counters to push through such lack of attention to detail to save a few bucks on vehicles costing 60-80K. Ford seems to have no problem mounting the antenna in the center of the vehicle.
Ford puts it off-centered on the passenger side.
Ram is the only full size domestic truck that puts it centered and on the rear of the cab.
OMG. Who, the hell, cares.
-Peter Griffin
It’s easier to replace if needed. Don’t have to take the whole headliner out. Leave it where it is!
You folks are absolutely pathetic,
Using space to whine about something so small and invaluable as to the function of a truck.
Yup, its a truck. It’s not meant to be a pavement princess, its meant to get the job done, do it well and do it lots and lots of times reliably!!!!!
GM trucks reliability over the years I’ve had bad luck with him unfortunately I was a GM guy so I went to Ford
I am an old man. The antenna placement is perfect the passenger side has a grab bar in the door post the driver side is lacking that feature it is best used to pull myself up and stand on the floorboard to clean the windshield I for one would like to thank the engineers for making it sturdy enough for this purpose.
Also note that full size SUV’s are much higher, it has to clear the top of your garage door. Some houses and garage doors vary in hight. I have 3″ clearance with the way its mounted now. Had it been further back and center, it would be to close for comfort.
My question is why is there a whip antenna in addition to the shark fin? My Cadillac and Acadia only had the shark fin….
My understanding is the whip antenna is for the AM FM radio and the shark fin is for satellite reception which includes not only the satellite radio but the cell phone and onstar. wi fi in generated from the cell phone
Silverado with a camper traveling in the bed, there is an overhang of the camper that prevents the shark fin from receiving reception (both GPS and XM). Would be nice to provide an option for a second location of the fin.
I agree that the antenna looks out of place. It is obvious that it looks silly. Otherwise we wouldn’t be having this discussion, and this article would not have been written. Looks a lot cleaner without it in my opinion. My truck did not come with XM so it does not have the shark fin. Most of the people I know do not subscribe to XM after the free trial is over anyway. They just subscribe to streaming services like Pandora or Spotify. If you are a truck enthusiast, these things matter. If you just see a truck for the function of a truck, I can understand why it’s no big deal to you.
The placement of a roof antenna is very important for the pick up of the radio signal . The more roof under the front and back and the sides, determines how much pick up the antenna has. If the roof was round, the range would be equal, all around. The way the antenna are placed on one side, that puts more signal in the direction on the longest part of the roof . If the cell tower your phone was connecting to was on the short side over the driver, the signal pick up and transmit will be greatest toward the back of the truck and in the direction of the passenger!
Why doesn’t GM publish suggested locations for 2-way radio antennas for the Suburban, Tahoe, etc.? Ford and Chrysler both do for their vehicles.
I have a 450MHz. radio to install in a 2025 Tahoe purchased by my employer; however with the lack of available information available from Chevrolet on antenna placement in the Tahoe, such an installation is problematic.
That said, my personal vehicle (a Ford) has antenna information in the upfitter’s documents, and runs quite well with HF, VHF and UHF transceivers of 150-watts and under class.
While I realize that most consumers are not going to install a radio, other than a 27 MHz. citizens band radio in their personal vehicle, Public Safety often does with frequencies from 27-900 MHz and operating with several hundred watts of transmitter power output.