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GM Authority

GM Dealers Continue Selling Down Older Chevy Silverado Medium Duty Inventory

In late January of this year, GM Authority exclusively reported that around 4,000 cumulative units of the 2019 and 2020 model year Chevy Silverado Medium Duty trucks were sitting unsold on dealer lots. We can now provide an update on the situation, providing inventory figures as of the beginning of March.

Chevy Silverado Medium Duty Inventory
2019 Silverado MD 2020 Silverado MD
December 2020 / January 2021 1000 3000
March 2021 900 2500

Approximately 100 units of the 2019 Chevy Silverado MD and 500 units of the 2020 Chevy Silverado MD trucks have now found customers, reducing the total amount in dealer inventory to around 3,400. Although this is certainly an improvement, it suggests that GM does not have a problem with demand of the Silverado MD exceeding supply. This is in stark contrast with the Chevy Trailblazer, which GM can hardly build enough of.

Chevrolet Silverado Sales Detail - Q4 2020 - USA

ModelQ4 2020 / Q4 2019Q4 2020Q4 2019YTD 2020 / YTD 2019YTD 2020YTD 2019
Total+9.9%179,444163,341+3.2%594,094575,600
Silverado LD+0.9%125,688124,619-0.5%436,281438,686
Silverado HD+39%51,02036,704+14%150,394131,953
Silverado MD+35.6%2,7362,018+49.5%7,4194,961

Total Chevy Silverado sales in the U.S. in 2020 reached 594,094 units, making this by far GM’s most popular nameplate, accounting for 34 percent of Chevrolet sales and 23 percent of GM sales. Of those 594,094 Silverado sales, Silverado Medium models (4500HD, 5500HD and 6500HD) accounted for 7,419 sales, or 1.2 percent.

However, MD sales were up by a remarkable 49.5 percent for the year as a whole, and 35.6 percent for Q4. This is primarily due to low sales volumes in 2019, when the Medium Duty was undergoing launch.

The Chevy Silverado MD is offered in a choice of Regular or Crew Cabs – both featuring dual rear wheels – and either the Work Truck (1WT) or LT (1LT) trim levels. All models come in the chassis cab configuration (without a bed, at least from the factory).

As of this writing, the only engine available for the Silverado Medium Duty is the 6.6L V8 L5D turbodiesel Duramax unit, which is rated at 350 horsepower and 700 pound-feet of torque. A gasoline engine is expected to join the lineup in the near future.

Despite being called a Silverado, the Medium Duty trucks are not mechanically related to other Chevy Silverado models. Instead, they ride on a unique platform developed jointly by General Motors and Navistar, while using the cabs of the last-gen (K2-generation) Silverado HD.

Be sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevy Silverado news, Chevrolet news and heavy-duty GM news coverage.

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David has been writing about motoring and motorsport since he was 13 and racing since he was 19. He is British, and therefore apologizes for taking up too much of your time.

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Comments

  1. Nice trucks but I have said it before and I will say it again, I think they missed the mark by not putting the 4500/5500 on a lower chassis to achieve a 3500 on steroids look. If they would have followed that formula along with offering higher trim packages and an actual dually bed I don’t think we would be reading about these issues.

    Reply
    1. These aren’t about looks.
      These are about getting actual work done.
      Not a single person or company who actually is in the market for these care how they look.

      The look you’re talking about is well achieved with the current gen HDs. They look muscular and have a substantial presence that photos don’t show.

      Reply
      1. And what I just described would get the same amount of “actual” work done in a more convenient way. You clearly misunderstood my point since Ford and Ram already follow this exact formula, were not reading about them sitting on a ton of unsold inventory. I’m not saying the HD doesn’t look “muscular” enough, it’s about the convenience of a lower, more customizable and user friendly platform. Keep the 6500 as is, I’m specifically talking about the 4500/5500 model. These are good trucks but the MD game has changed since GM was last involved.

        Reply
  2. I’m in one of the top 4 largest metros in the country.

    There are 14 2020 models on dealer lots within 50 miles of my zip code. All are the shortest wheelbase models. There are no 2019 models.

    Where GM missed the mark is not offering a gas engine, then over estimating demand for the longer wheelbase models while over building the short wheelbase trucks. That’s been corrected, although clearly some older inventory is still around. It’s also not that unusual for medium duty trucks to sit longer than retail light duty trucks.

    The Medium Duty conventional cabs are hot sellers in most configurations (longer wheel bases). But they can be next level with a decent gas motor. And a dock height version.

    Reply
    1. Good point, most medium duty customers order their vehicles so it’s tricky for a dealer to buy stock for inventory. Most will try to have to have a few trucks in inventory for popular applications, but it’s a guessing game. I don’t think Chevy medium duty inventory is excessive, sales are strong and growing. A gas engine and a dock height version (22.5″ wheels) can only help.

      Reply
  3. Exactly! These prius driving idiots that designed these trucks should be shot! Yhey are cool looking but can you imagine climbing in and out of this monstrosity 50 times a day. That’s what construction people do on jobsites! If they would at least make a 4500 and 5500 that looks the size of a 3500 like Ford and Ram do and use the new body style they would sell like hotcakes. Make a6500 and 7500 on the monster truck chassis.

    Reply
  4. I’m paitently waiting for a gas engine model and 22.5 wheel kit. I do think the missed the mark by not having thr 6500 at 25990 like previous years, but with a 22.5 wheel kit I think the GVW will be raised. I also think they aren’t competitive with Ford as they don’t have the 7500 series either, lots of us want a CDL rated GM chassi but are stuck with 2009 and older models. Hopefully they will correct this and our 3500HD is getting old at 20 years young haha. But I will agree the 4500/5500 could be on a smaller cab size like Ford and Ram to make them.way more marketable!

    Reply
  5. These trucks drive and handle like a medium duty truck. Those 19.5 wander more than a 18″ on a pickup. My F550 would do it with 225 tires. I think they should make the 4500 and 5500 like fords 450 and 550. People are not buying these 4500 and 5500 because they are more like a medium duty truck. I had a new low pro in 1996 and noticed the difference between my old super duty 14k gvw truck. Maybe keep these but call it a 6000.

    Reply
  6. Perhaps if GM marketed them better-

    Reply
  7. From GM’s perspective, they have the Low Cab Forward, if you want a dock high delivery truck. Gas engines are about to run into impossible to meet standards in a couple of years. The best seller is 84″ c/a. The medium duty market is very diverse, so company wants are all over the board. Most Chevy dealers do not order sold units because of the long manufacturing times- 6-7 months, so it is a guessing game.

    Reply
    1. Actually it’s diesel engines that are about to run into very difficult to meet emission standards, particularly NOX and PM. Gasoline engines not so much. The cost advantage gasoline engines have over diesel my increase.

      Reply
  8. If you road test a 4500hd you’ll see that no one would buy it for its daily drive. Mine is loaded with tools a welder and compressor . Still rides like a tank. I also have an 03 4500 and without the tools rides comfortably. My 2019 is also governed at 79 mph. I hate it . Its the worst decision i ever made

    Reply
  9. The 4500 5500 are a perfect truck look great and with tilt nose mechanics can work on them much easier…. but the problem is Chevy stopped making medium duty trucks for a while SO EVERY BODY STARTED BUYING FORD F550 and 650 … IF YOU LOOK AT EVERY LANDSCAPER THEY ARE DRIVING A F550 BECAUSE CHEVY HAD NOTHING TO OFFER FOR YEARS….‼️‼️‼️

    Reply
  10. If they would have put a medium duty engine In a medium duty truck they would sell more. Who wants a over worked pickup engine in a expensive truck when for almost the money you can move to a different make with a bigger engine.

    Reply
  11. On a pickup, you have one transmission. On the medium duty the engine will be mated with one of 8 Allison transmissions, depending on the application. GM wouldn’t give a 5 year/ 100,000 mile warranty on the power train, if they thought it was over worked.

    Reply
  12. Is there a program where they would donate one of these 4500/5500 for “testing”? I’m trying to get into a better truck for my business so I don’t get to the next stage growth and need a truck and several other things all at once. Tricky timing.

    Reply
  13. Ask your local dealer if they have a demo unit you could drive for a few days ok

    Reply
  14. I have had better experience with Navistar on non fleet ship thru for body competition. To be honest, we have seen less demand for all pickup style 45/55 and more demand for LCF in this 14500 to 19500 gvwr range for various application and commercial reasons. Some of what was a 45/55 application has shifted to minimum 23-23500 650s, such as recovery bodies for light duty because of consumer shifts to heavier cross overs and suvs. Outside of HD pickups and vans, and even though they require CDL in most cases, Class 7 seems to be picking up the most for upfit, but it’s hard to tell because municipal bids have been effected by budget contractions due to the pandemic. Really like the newer class 6 and 7 Hino’s, not a fan of the cab mount system on the GM/Navistar.

    Reply
    1. Spell check altered, that should read body completion in the the first sentence.

      Reply
    2. I wonder if Chevy and International are still planning on a joint venture class7.

      Reply
      1. Not sure now. Its already a competitive market, demand is always cyclical and while it looks ok now I’m not sure what adding a GM nameplate brings here because there are good competitors fully established. This series would surely need other powertrains and air brakes as class 7s. If stimulus money gets diverted to a major increase in broadband expansion in rural areas, there will be an immediate need for aerial lift trucks on MD chassis.

        Reply
  15. Their really not chevys they are rebadged internationals their is international semi truck dealership around corner from me and they have international logos on them look exactly like those rebadged chevys

    Reply
    1. The only thing supplied by Navistar International is the chassis, everything else is sourced from GM. (joint venture)

      Reply
      1. Not entirely true, Navistar was design and development responsible, with GM input on performance requirements. Body assembly and final assembly are at Navistar’s Springfield plant. Testing was at Navistar proving grounds. Other than the Duramax and engine calibrators, all other manpower and components are Navistar or Navistar suppliers. The K2 style body and interior components are supplier provided. The electrical architecture has GM global a content, mainly because of ease to communicate between PCM and previous engineered systems. Because of the Chevy badge GM has some regulatory commitments, but otherwise GM is more of a middle man here than a joint effort.

        Reply
        1. From Wikipedia….. “Developed in a joint venture with Navistar International, the Chevrolet Silverado 4500/5500 is a Class 4-6 vehicle.”

          Reply

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