GM Authority photographers have captured Ford performing benchmarking tests on the 2021 Chevy Tahoe at its Dearborn campus in Michigan.
This photo set shows a 2021 Chevy Tahoe Premier equipped with a Michigan manufacturer’s license plate leaving the competitive benchmarking center at the Ford Dearborn facility. It’s quite common for automakers to benchmark the competition’s products with their own, as this practice allows them to see where their vehicle falls short compared to their rivals and how they can improve their products to generate more sales, but Ford has a particularly good reason to keep a close eye on the Tahoe.
Ford may be keen to benchmark the 2021 Chevy Tahoe, as the full-size SUV has been obliterating the Ford Expedition in sales this year. The Tahoe has generated sales of 75,148 units in the first nine months of 2021, while the Ford Expedition trails at 64,204 units. That sales figure for the Expedition also includes the longer wheelbase Expedition MAX. If we combine the sales of the Chevy Tahoe with the longer wheelbase Suburban, Chevy’s full-size SUV line has actually generated sales of 109,331 units – far more than the Expedition.
Sales Numbers - Mainstream Full-Size SUVs - Jan-Sep 2021 - United States
| MODEL | YTD 21 / YTD 20 | YTD 21 | YTD 20 | YTD 21 SHARE | YTD 20 SHARE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHEVROLET TAHOE | +26.21% | 75,148 | 59,540 | 29% | 30% |
| CHEVROLET SUBURBAN | +42.08% | 34,183 | 24,059 | 13% | 12% |
| GMC YUKON | +48.55% | 36,975 | 24,891 | 14% | 13% |
| GMC YUKON XL | +65.11% | 22,768 | 13,790 | 9% | 7% |
| FORD EXPEDITION | +24.07% | 64,204 | 51,747 | 25% | 26% |
| NISSAN ARMADA | +6.64% | 18,684 | 17,520 | 7% | 9% |
| TOYOTA SEQUOIA | +29.11% | 6,111 | 4,733 | 2% | 2% |
| JEEP WAGONEER | * | 42 | 0 | 0% | 0% |
| TOTAL | +31.50% | 258,115 | 196,280 |
This isn’t the first time we’ve caught Ford benchmarking a GM product riding on its T1 body-on-frame platform. Back in July, we published photos of the automaker testing out the 2021 Cadillac Escalade as it evaluated the vehicle to help improve its Lincoln Navigator full-size luxury SUV.
As an interesting aside, we also caught Ford benchmarking the C8 Corvette Stingray this summer – a potential sign that Ford is looking to break into the two-seat sports car game sometime in the not-too-distant future. This benchmarking practice also goes both ways, with photographers catching GM engineers trying out the latest Ford F-350 Super Duty Dually back in September.
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Comments
It’s common for manufacturers to benchmark other automotive products. General Motors has recently benchmarked the new Ram HD and now Ford is benchmarking the new Suburban and Tahoe. When another manufacturer’s product surpasses another one’s automotive product, the other manufacturer has to benchmark it in order to make a newer and more competitive product to compete with it.
Given how General Motors has outdone Ford in the Full-Size SUV segment with two highly competitive products (Suburban and Tahoe), it makes sense for Ford to benchmark them in order to develop a more competitive full-size SUV product.
Ford is also benchmarking the new Land Rover Defender.
Indeed. More info for those who want it:
https://fordauthority.com/2021/11/ford-benchmarking-bronco-rival-land-rover-defender/
Haha that’s where I found out from.
@Alex Luft
Would you consider doing like a Jeep authority? Or maybe a Jeep, Ram, Dodge authority? I am subscribed to both this Cadillac, and ford authority but it would be cool if sometime in the future if this could become a reality thanks.
FORD is headed in the right direction with the Expedition without beach marking Chevy. They need to put more of there attention on LINCOLN Navigator the look really didn’t change for 2022 plus Cadillac Escalade interior is way better looking
FORD Expedition is ugly, outdated, ugly, and do not look genuine.
Jim
While I don’t like the Expedition, I do like the Navigator, but they need more differentiation under the hood, that 3.5L Ecoboost won’t be enough if GM decides to make that rumored Escalade V, I’d like to see a Lincoln-exclusive twin-turbo V8.
Probably wanted to figure out how to make the engine not stall after starting…
Fix Over Road Devices…
The Tahoe / Suburban and similar trucks are some of the only bright lights at GM right now. New half tons have potential (but still some huge mistakes), but otherwise the fullsize suv’s and Corvette are about all GM has that the competition needs to benchmark.
They don’t need to buy one to benchmark, it’s obvious what ford is lacking. A v8, and a small diesel.
I know Ford thinks the Ecoboost is the end all be all, but consumers aren’t convinced, myself included. A 5.0 or the little diesel they used in f150 would be great options however, and would put expedition on my shopping list.
The Ford/Lincoln full size SUV’s are nice enough and have made leaps and bounds in quality lately but will never be in the same class as the GM rigs until the drive train is competitive. When Ford wakes up and comes back with a solid and durable V-8, like the proven 5.0, I believe their sales would increase dramatically. The ecoboost turbo’d V-6, although capable for many situations, isn’t what this segment wants.
A v8 and great availability of the v8 would get me into an expedition. I don’t want a v6 in a fullsize truck/SUV. I don’t care if you throw turbos on a 6, It just doesn’t feel right.
With their F150 you either have to special order or find a dealer with a v8 truck if you want one.