The amount of time a new vehicle sits on a dealer lot from arrival to sale is usually expressed in terms of days, and is generally known as days supply. The optimal figure in the United States for a retail vehicle is considered to be 60 days, while the 16 days which currently applies to the Chevy Blazer crossover implies demand that is significantly outpacing supply. However, when it comes to the Chevy Silverado Medium Duty truck, the figure is actually in years.
| 2019 Silverado MD | 2020 Silverado MD | 2019 and 2020 combined | |
|---|---|---|---|
| End of December 2020 | 1,000 | 3,000 | 4,000 |
| End of February 2021 | 900 | 2,500 | 3,400 |
| End of March 2021 | 700 | 2,200 | 2,900 |
| End of April 2021 | 600 | 1,800 | 2,400 |
| End of May 2021 | 500 | 1,500 | 2,000 |
GM Authority last reported on this a few weeks ago, when the latest figures we had took us to the end of April. At that time, approximately 600 units of the 2019 Chevy Silverado MD and 1,800 of the 2020 Chevy Silverado MD were available at Chevrolet dealerships across the U.S., making for a total of around 2,400 combined units on-the-ground. April was therefore the third consecutive month when dealer inventory had fallen by 500 units.
Now, GM Authority has learned from sources familiar with the matter that the process is continuing, but more slowly than before. As of the end of May, there were 500 units of the 2019 Silverado MD waiting for buyers, along with 1,500 units of the 2020 model, for a total of approximately 2,000. That equates to just 400 of the vehicles finding customers during May.
Meanwhile, dealer inventory of the 2021 Chevy Silverado MD was sitting at 2,500 units as of the end of May, which is around 200 units higher than at the end of April. Total inventory for the vehicle across all three model years is therefore around 4,500 units, or 200 less than it was at the end of March. For the sake of reference, 7,419 units of the Chevy Silverado MD were sold in the U.S. during the 2020 calendar year.
As previously reported, however, the Chevy Silverado MD has been performing relatively well recently. U.S. sales during Q1 of 2021 were 82 percent higher than during the same period of the previous year, at 1,887 units. This is far higher than the 11 percent improvement for the Chevy Silverado HD, and stands in stark contrast to the 20 percent drop in sales of the Chevy Silverado 1500, which nevertheless remains by far the best-selling Chevrolet model, and indeed the best-selling General Motors vehicle of any kind.
Chevrolet Silverado Sales Detail - Q1 2021 - USA
| Model | Q1 2021 / Q1 2020 | Q1 2021 | Q1 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | -12.5% | 126,591 | 144,734 |
| Silverado LD | -19.7% | 90,705 | 112,925 |
| Silverado HD | +10.5% | 33,999 | 30,773 |
| Silverado MD | +82.1% | 1,887 | 1,036 |
The situation is likely to improve still further, as a result of most states relaxing COVID-19-related measures. Additionally, the appeal of the Silverado MD should increase with the introduction of the 6.6L V8 L8T gasoline engine. The naturally-aspirated eight-cylinder made its debut in the 2020 Chevy Silverado HD and the 2020 GMC Sierra HD, and we expect it to be offered in the Silverado Medium Duty in the future as an alternative to the 6.6L V8 L5D turbodiesel Duramax, which is currently the only engine offered in the MD range.
The Medium Duty trucks play a small but important part in the success of the Chevy Silverado as a whole, but they are not closely related to other models in the line-up. That’s because the Silverado MD rides on a unique platform developed jointly by GM and Navistar. The trucks are fitted with cabs from the previous-generation, K2-based Silverado HD rather than the current, 2020 and newer model.
Be sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevy Silverado news, Chevrolet news and heavy-duty GM news coverage.
Comments
It’s normal for commercial vehicles to have slower turnover than retail oriented models like the Blazer.
That said. We’ve been saying for years that the Silverado MD needs a gas motor. And we’ll be saying it years from now too. Because that’s how long it takes for GM to make changes to this model.
I remember reading about these trucks when they first came out. If I recall correctly, they have a really disappointing town rating. They had some Chevy rep give a blah blah answer like they did it on purpose. But the reality is, they came out of the box highly outgunned. It seems a huge oversight for GM.
It’s time for an update cab wise and features.
Where has the dependability gone too. A vehicle with less than 5000 miles turn into the dealership for numerous warranty issues, give back the hundred thousand mile warranty where a customer might have a little bit more reassurance and not lose money on downtime or getting their business a running quote.
Totally under utilized?
Smaller pickups pull 35′ car racks cross country.
This thing should be a port mule for empty LTL & TL 53′ trailers? Why use a semi when you can move empty 53′ trailers and containers with these pickups?
LTL and parcels Corp dual trailers, can they pull empties?
Can they pull one—-(full one) 3/4 filled—1/2 filled—-1/4 filled–?
UPS & FedEx: use tandem trailers to move parcels between cities? Now like a railroad those semis will stay on the main line or interstate: while the pickups will grab a trailer, take it to warehouse to breakdown OR
straight start delivery from a single tandem?
Now that’s utilized
Don’t fall for the advertising. You run any vehicle near GCWR, you will be overhauling the engine and transmission before 100,000 miles. I’ve seen pickups who do the car hauling thing and they’ve all had massive repairs around 90k and then cry about losing their shirt.
Pickups are over-advertised because nobody who buys them actually hauls that much, and if they do, it’s a few times a year max, not daily.
Another example: the Duramax L5P in pickups is rated 445 HP, when the same engine is put into this MD truck, it’s derated to 350 HP. All engines are the same: take the Cummins B6.7 is 420 HP in pickups, 325 HP in medium duty.
Add more power and look for foreign markets, that’s what Chevrolet has to do.
They don’t sell because there are only select dealers that GM permits to sell them, leaving way too many (would be customers) long distances to finally find a dealer that can sell them. That’s why we bought a Ford, also, they don’t sell because GM dosn’t advertise and promote them. GM has serious management issues! Their marketing is flat out stupid.
They don’t sell because people who buy these already have a fleet of MD/HD trucks so they buy the same truck from the International dealer, and they trust the International guys to better know how to service these trucks, especially since it runs on a Navistar architecture with specific software and tools.
This is all they do at at International service, but the Chevy dealer ends up having one or two techs with MD certification, and one bay with a lift that can handle such a big truck, so any repairs take ages.
Similar service issues with the MB Sprinter, which was why they tried Freightliner branding and both sides ran into some of the same problems.
Ford is the way to go in this lineup
I was excited to see GM-Chevy get back into the medium duty trucks simply due to fleet sales give fleet buyers one stop shopping or one manufacture shopping. But what I’ve seen is the lack of fleet sales commitment. The MDs are a franchise inside a franchise. GM just doesn’t market like that Dearborn group. There are some stores that have dedicated truck salesmen, who understand the customer fit. That’s not found at many Chevy stores. You can’t sell specialty vehicles and not know the client & his needs. Also inventory is redundant with many location carrying similar configurations. Marketing is missing the mark.
Very true, and the sad thing about it is, obviously GM don’t care. My local chevy dealer tried hard to sell them. I live in a heavily populated, industious area and I can think of at least 8 chevy dealers within 40 miles from where I live but the closest dealer that I could by a Medium Duty from is about 80 miles. My Fleet goes to Ford & Ram
The future is robotics, machines that do multiple human tasks, why can’t your MD?
Back up release lock pins from frame, pull forward.
Now you have a choice of beds: to back up to and place in lock pins?
Pins like used with semis as fifth wheel for trailers?
1) utilities lift bucket
2) dumper dump truck
3); vacuum sweeper
4) fuel tanker
5) chemical tanker
6) flat bed: cargo/ toe truck
7) fifth wheel
Now the middle duty has a multiple task option?
International or Chevy or GMC can offer a package deal or a Great Dane trailer dealership could offer options?
Navistar
Case
Tweed
Bobcat
All have the same restrictions: self propelled tractors.
Now taking a utility electric lines MD, then have the bed do 360°? With a human bucket or:
Industrial tractor components?
Bucket for digging
Forks for lifting
Arch’s for welding
Bulldozer blades?
You control MD from either point ?
Cab of MD or (CAB OF BED?)
Bobcat wireless tractor controller?
These trucks need to be updated with the newer cab, gas engine option, and available at more dealerships. The tow rating should exceed that of the 3500 also. The trucks could also use a nicer interior trim level to compete with Ram and Ford.