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Chevrolet Silverado Sales Jump 27 Percent To Overtake Ram In Q1 2020

Chevrolet Silverado sales increased in the United States, Canada and Mexico during the first quarter of 2020.

Chevrolet Silverado Sales - Q1 2020 - United States

In the United States, Chevrolet Silverado deliveries totaled 144,734 units in Q1 2020, an increase of about 27 percent compared to 114,313 units sold in Q1 2019. Silverado 1500 (light duty) sales increased 33.6 percent to 112,925 units, Silverado Heavy Duty (2500HD and 3500HD) sales increased 4.2 percent to 30,773 units, and Silverado Medium Duty sales (4500HD, 5500HD and 6500HD) increased 285 percent to 1,036 units.
MODEL Q1 2020 / Q1 2019 Q1 2020 Q1 2019
SILVERADO +26.61% 144,734 114,313

Chevrolet Silverado Sales Breakdown - Q1 2020

ModelQ1 2020 / Q1 2019Q1 2020Q1 2019YTD 2020 / YTD 2019YTD 2020YTD 2019
Total+26.6%144,734114,313+26.6%144,734114,313
Silverado LD+33.6%112,92584,496+33.6%112,92584,496
Silverado HD+4.2%30,77329,541+4.2%30,77329,541
Silverado MD+275.4%1,036276+275.4%1,036276

Chevrolet Silverado Sales - Q1 2020 - Canada

In Canada, Chevrolet Silverado deliveries totaled 11,171 units in Q1 2020, an increase of about 3 percent compared to 10,837 units sold in Q1 2019.
MODEL Q1 2020 / Q1 2019 Q1 2020 Q1 2019
SILVERADO +3.08% 11,171 10,837

Chevrolet Silverado Sales - Q1 2020 - Mexico

In Mexico, Chevrolet Silverado deliveries totaled 4,531 units in Q1 2020, an increase of about 413 percent compared to 883 units sold in Q1 2019.
MODEL Q1 2020 / Q1 2019 Q1 2020 Q1 2019
SILVERADO +413.14% 4,531 883

2019 Chevrolet Silverado RST exterior - August 2018 - Wyoming 009

Competitive Sales Comparison

First quarter 2020 Chevrolet Silverado sales place the truck in second place in its competitive set, behind the Ford F-Series (see Ford F-series sales) in first place by about 42,000 units but ahead of the Ram Pickup, now in third place, by about 16,000 units. As such, the Silverado has overtaken Ram to reclaim its historic spot as the second best-selling vehicle in its segment.

What’s more, Chevrolet Silverado sales outpaced the segment during the quarter, as the full-size pickup truck market expanded 3 percent, while Chevrolet Silverado sales increased 27 percent. From a growth rate standpoint, Silverado was second only to its corporate cousin – the GMC Sierra (see GMC Sierra sales) – which grew at a 31 percent clip during the same timeframe.

Full-Size Pickup Truck Sales - Q1 2020 - USA

MODEL Q1 20 / Q1 19 Q1 20 Q1 19 Q1 20 SHARE Q1 19 SHARE
FORD F-SERIES -13.07% 186,562 214,611 35% 41%
CHEVROLET SILVERADO +26.61% 144,734 114,313 27% 22%
RAM RAM PICKUP +7.31% 128,805 120,026 24% 23%
GMC SIERRA +30.74% 53,009 40,546 10% 8%
TOYOTA TUNDRA -13.71% 21,658 25,100 4% 5%
NISSAN TITAN -40.80% 5,732 9,683 1% 2%
TOTAL +3.09% 540,500 524,279

Chevrolet Silverado sales accounted for 27 percent segment share during the quarter, an improvement of 5 percentage points compared to the 22 percent share it held in the year-ago quarter. That’s behind the 35 percent for the F-Series, which saw share fall 6 percentage points from the year-ago quarter. Meanwhile, the Ram Pickup accounted for 24 percent share and GMC Sierra accounted for 10 percent. The Toyota Tundra and Nissan Titan held 4 and 1 percent, respectively.

The full-size pickup truck segment expanded 3 percent to 540,500 units in Q1 2020.

We are providing Honda Ridgeline sales below for informational purposes, since the model straddles the midsize and full-size pickup truck segments.

Sales Numbers - Honda Ridgeline - Q1 2020 - USA

MODEL Q1 20 / Q1 19 Q1 20 Q1 19
RIDGELINE +16.87% 8,125 6,952

2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2.7L Turbo

The GM Authority Take

It’s great news to see Silverado sales jump as much as they did during Q1 2020 to overtake the Ram for the second-place spot in the segment. Another key win for the Silverado was the fact that it posted the second-highest growth rate in the segment, only behind its own platform mate, the GMC Sierra.

The fact that sales were up across all three Silverado lines – the Silverado 1500 (Light Duty), Silverado HD (Heavy Duty) and Silverado MD (Medium Duty) – indicate that the sales gains were driven by true market demand. We imagine that sales would have been even higher had it not been for the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, which sapped GM (and most of the auto industry) anywhere between 15 and 25 selling days during the month of March.

We attribute healthy Silverado during Q1 2020 to widespread availability of the models at the retail level after recovering from the 40 day-long UAW work strike in the second half of 2019.

2019 Chevrolet Silverado bed lighting ad break 006

Going forward, we expect Chevrolet Silverado sales to suffer in the second quarter of 2020 as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact production, sales operations, and customer demand on all levels of the supply and demand spectrum. However, once the pandemic begins to come to an end, we expect to see sales of Chevy’s bread-and-butter truck line recover and continue the pace set out in Q1 2020.

GM Q1 2020 sales numbers:
  • All percent change figures compared to Chevrolet Silverado sales in Q1 2019
  • In the United States, there were 76 selling days in Q1 2020 and 76 selling days in Q1 2019
  • Chevrolet Silverado sales include:
    • Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and variants
    • Chevrolet Silverado Heavy Duty models, including:
      • Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD and variants
      • Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD and variants
    • Chevrolet Silverado Medium Duty Chassis Cab
  • Ford F-Series sales include:
    • Ford F-150 and variants
    • Ford F-Series Super Duty models, including:
      • Ford F-250 Super Duty and variants
      • Ford F-350 Super Duty and variants
      • Ford F-450 Super Duty and variants
      • Ford F-550 Super Duty and variants
    • Ford F-Series Chassis Cab
    • Ford F-650 and F-750 are not included in these sales, as Ford records their sales separately as Ford Heavy Trucks sales
  • Ram Pickup sales include:
    • Ram 1500 pickup and variants
    • Ram 2500 pickup and variants
    • Ram 3500 pickup and variants
    • Ram Chassis Cab
  • GMC Sierra sales include:
    • GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra Denali 1500 and variants
    • GMC Sierra Heavy Duty models, including:
      • GMC Sierra 2500HD, GMC Sierra 2500HD Denali and variants
      • GMC Sierra 3500HD, GMC Sierra 3500HD Denali and variants
    • GMC Sierra Chassis Cab
  • Toyota Tundra sales include:
    • Toyota Tundra and variants
  • Nissan Titan sales include:
    • Nissan Titan and variants
    • Nissan Titan XD and variants

2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 High Country - Exterior - 2018 Detroit Auto Show 002

2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 High Country at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show

About Chevrolet Silverado

The Chevrolet Silverado is a lineup of full-size pickup trucks sold primarily in North America, but also in the Middle East and in certain markets in South America. Slotting above the mid-size Chevrolet Colorado (known as the S10 in some markets), the Silverado is Chevrolet's largest pickup truck and currently consists of the 1500 light duty model, two Heavy Duty models - the 2500HD and 3500HD, as well as Conventional Class 4, Class 5 and Class 6 Medium Duty models - the Silverado 4500HD and Silverado 5500HD and Silverado 6500HD.

The 2018 Chevy Silverado represents the fifth model year of the third-generation Silverado. It is based on the GM K2 platform shared with other full-size pickup trucks and SUVs from GM. Though the line sold relatively well, it became less competitive in the marketplace with time when compared to its primary Ford F-Series rival, due to lacking cutting-edge features such as turbocharged engines, a rugged off-road variant such as the Ford F-150 Raptor, a diesel engine option in the light duty (1500) model, and also various modern features and equipment.

2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 High Country - Exterior - 2018 Detroit Auto Show 004

2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 High Country at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show

Luckily, an all-new Silverado arrived for the 2019 model year that addresses many of the issues of its predecessor model. Customers began taking delivery of the all-new truck in the second half of August 2018.

Chevrolet says that the all-new 2019 Silverado is the result of over 7,000 customer interviews - the most intensive research in its history. The new model uses higher grade alloy steel in the bed floor as well as various mixed materials that result in a reduction in weight and improved performance, with weight falling about 450 pounds. The truck also offers an expanded amount of models for a total of eight, including the new 2019 Silverado Trailboss.

Riding on GM's new T1 platform shared with other future GM full-size trucks and SUVs, the 2019 Silverado offers more technology, convenience features, and engine/transmission combinations. While details of five powertrain combos have already been revealed, GM has not yet shared details of the new inline-six 3.0L Duramax Diesel engine, only stating that it will be "best-performing" and that it will be mated to GM's new 10-speed transmission.

Notably, the outgoing, Chevy will continue manufacturing and selling the outgoing, K2 generation Silverado alongside the all-new model for a limited amount of time in limited configurations.

2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD

Having overhauled the Silverado 1500, Chevy will next overhaul the Silverado Heavy Duty. The brand released a teaser image of the upcoming all-new 2020 Silverado HD in April 2018 and announced the vehicle in November 2018. The truck will launch in the 2019 calendar year as a 2020 model.

2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD LT Crew Cab 02

The 2020 Silverado HD will be comprised of the Silverado 2500HD and Silverado 3500HD that ride on a more robust and capable version of the new T1 platform when compared to the 2019 Silverado 1500, while sharing many high-tech features and design elements with its light duty brother.

Completing the overhauled Silverado family is the 2019 Silverado Medium Duty series, comprised of the Silverado 4500HD, 5500HD, and 6500HD.

2019 Chevrolet Silverado 5500HD exterior 004

2019 Chevrolet Silverado Medium Duty (5500HD)

The Chevrolet Silverado is built at the following GM plants:

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GM Authority Executive Editor with a passion for business strategy and fast cars.

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Comments

  1. Sales would improve even more if they fixed the crappy interior and put the 10 speed tranny in the 5.3.

    Reply
    1. The interior is not bad, it is comfortable, functional and extremely roomy, but it is far from best. 10 speed seems to be a far superior gearbox compared to the 8 speed, which should have rolled out in 2019, but for comparison sake, the 8 speed performance and towing wise is 3x better than the 6 speed, and seems to be on par with Rams 8 speed.

      Reply
      1. If you buy a GMC Sierra with 5.3 and 4WD, the 10 speed tranny is standard. Why isn’t 10 Speed tranny available on Silverado 5.3 with 4WD?

        Reply
      2. Truebl Trevor, also the trims of the GM trucks do not go as high as ram and fords do. If you compare a LT to an XLT the Chevy has a nicer interior for a better price, and a high country is the equivalent of a king ranch or Laramie in price. Even the Denali ultimate package is a cheaper truck than a fully optioned limited or Laramie longhorn trim with far superior mechanical components

        Reply
    2. Well, the pickups will inherit the SUV interiors. Problem solved

      Reply
    3. It’s nice to c that the Chevy and GMC outsold the Ford.

      Reply
    4. I own a 2020 Silverado Trail Boss 5.3L with a 10 speed automatic transmission and the interior is just fine .

      Reply
  2. You guys are talking about the trans… while my ‘18 2500 HD was in the shop I had a 2019 5.3 1500 with the 8 speed and I didn’t like it! In daily driving all it did was hunt for gears and constantly shifting… i was happy to get my truck back…

    Reply
  3. The GMC Elevation with the 5.3 V-8 has the 10 speed transmission. It’s great. I’m getting 18 mpg combined city and highway.

    Reply
  4. We all here in Brazil hope to see soon the General Motors pick up trucks on sale in our dealers ! Chrysler already is testing here the new Ram ….so please, do not waste time Mr GM !

    Reply
  5. 144,734 + 53,009 = 197,743 ‬ > 186,562

    But we don’t do that here do we?

    Reply
  6. So much for all the pundits who said the new Silverado was a POS and would never get second place in sales back again. Add in GMC and they now outsell the F series.

    Reply
  7. DON’T read this article It just more B.S on how Gm market strategy supposed to be working

    Reply
    1. Out trolling again

      Reply
  8. Why can’t I buy a 6.2L with 2 WD?

    Reply

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