mobile-menu-icon
GM Authority

All Remaining Build-Shy Chevy Colorado Trucks To Ship By July 19th

The last remaining “build-shy” examples of the 2021 Chevy Colorado midsize pickup truck will be shipped to Chevrolet dealers before production resumes at the GM Wentzville plant on July 19th, GM Authority has learned. The facility has been shut down since the week of May 24th.

To clarify, a build-shy vehicle is one which left the factory in an incomplete state and in need of further work before it can be delivered to the customer. As GM Authority exclusively reported last month, the Chevy Colorado has been manufactured in this manner due to the ongoing global microchip shortage.

At first sight, it may seem strange that a manufacturer would build vehicles which could not immediately be sold. However, by using this method, GM has created a stock of Chevy Colorado units which require only a relatively small amount of work to complete before being sent to dealerships (and ultimately sold to customers) once the microchips are available. GM has also applied the same strategy to other models.

Automakers around the world have been affected by the shortage, which was created by both a lack of demand in the auto industry during the climax of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as a spike in demand for electronic goods in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Supply of the Chevy Colorado has been hit particular hard, and this has led to a dramatic loss of sales.

Sales Numbers - Midsize Mainstream Pickup Trucks - Q2 2021 - USA

MODEL Q2 21 / Q2 20 Q2 21 Q2 20 Q2 21 SHARE Q2 20 SHARE YTD 21 / YTD 20 YTD 21 YTD 20
TOYOTA TACOMA +42.66% 72,847 51,063 42% 39% +33.04% 139,296 104,699
FORD RANGER +36.78% 34,205 25,008 20% 19% +26.93% 58,371 45,988
JEEP GLADIATOR +53.12% 29,962 19,568 17% 15% +40.08% 48,784 34,827
NISSAN FRONTIER +77.53% 15,612 8,794 9% 7% +38.37% 26,392 19,074
CHEVROLET COLORADO -25.54% 14,776 19,843 9% 15% -5.85% 38,859 41,273
GMC CANYON +2.33% 5,347 5,225 3% 4% +28.67% 12,491 9,708
TOTAL +33.40% 172,749 129,501 +26.85% 324,193 255,569

Among midsize mainstream pickups trucks sold in the United States, the Colorado was the only one to post a decline in sales volume both during the second quarter of 2021 and during the first six months of the same year. While Colorado sales had not previously been close to the segment-dominating Toyota Tacoma, it was at least a strong second-place contender that challenged the Ford Ranger for the position while outselling the Jeep Gladiator. But in Q2 2021, the midsize Chevy truck has fallen to a distant fifth in its segment.

Although the microchip shortage and the associated reduction in supply is largely responsible for the downturn, another factor working against Chevy’s smallest truck is its age. The 2021 model year vehicle is not very different from the 2015 Chevy Colorado, which represented the launch of the present generation in the U.S. and Canada.

Throughout its lifespan, the current-gen Colorado received a few minor upgrades, but no significant changes are in store until the introduction of the overhauled 2023 Chevy Colorado.

Once the build-shy units of the (current) Colorado arrive at dealers, we expect sales volume to rebound sharply. We should see that take place during the third quarter sales results, which will be reported during the first few days of October.

Want the latest on Chevy trucks? Then be sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevy Colorado news, Chevrolet news and 24/7 GM news coverage.

[nggallery id=1084]

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.

Subscribe to GM Authority

For around-the-clock GM news coverage

We'll send you one email per day with the latest GM news. It's totally free.

Comments

  1. None

    Reply
  2. Can you tell me when you going to start shipping the 2022 XT5

    Reply

Leave a comment

Cancel