2016 Chevrolet Suburban HD will be 3/4 Ton; Fleet Only

GM's  marketing decisions never cease to perplex.

You would think by their decisions that the mission is to sell fewer cars.

GM's  marketing decisions never cease to perplex.

 

You would think by their decisions that the mission is to sell fewer cars.

I'm sure if you really really want one, a dealership will make one available just like they did when the Caprice PPV cars first came out.

Had that thought myself. Why do they ever pull this sort of thing?

Had that thought myself. Why do they ever pull this sort of thing?

I'm sure that if there is enough demand, they tool up for bigger sales.  After a 3 year hiatus, there may be a backlog of Commercial and Government demand to fill.  Both of those will generally be much more profitable for GM. Imposing this limitation for now allows GM to fill that higher profit demand first.

Perhaps. But so much of what they have done over so many years is counter-intuitive. And just how many times have we watched them miss the boat?

Don't get why GM wouldn't want to make it 'civilian' production ready since if you go above 8500lbs gvwr it's not even EPA rated - totally different CAFE situation there.

2500HD needs to come to the Population but with the Baby V8 Duramax Diesel or at least with the option of pure CNG. This is just dragging out the inevitable that we will have it on the lots. Plenty of people want a 2500HD for towing their trailers and boats with people.

If they are not sure about all lines then make the 2500HD a Yukon XL Denali edition only with Diesel. That would be very profitable for them.

WAKE UP GM!

Don't get why GM wouldn't want to make it 'civilian' production ready since if you go above 8500lbs gvwr it's not even EPA rated - totally different CAFE situation there.

great point

GM and the art of losing market share.

GM and the art of losing market share.

I"m not sure how... it's not like there is any competition in this field.

 

GM and the art of losing market share.

 

I"m not sure how... it's not like there is any competition in this field.

 

It's a generalized comment about the entire GM market share not a particular field. Avalanche didn't have competitor as well and yet GM has lost nearly 15,000 units of share. This is not going to sell in big numbers, yet it's being restricted.

And let's not forget their penchant for getting something right - just in time to cancel it.

With decisions like this and dropping there warranty down to a less desirable 5/60 power train don't be surprised to see GM drop down to the 4th largest auto manufacturer within the next few years.

I think GM wants to make the new Suburban more desirable by keeping supply down. In my opinion, this is not the correct way to do it, but i hope they make money anyways. Even though they probably wont.

I hope they will bring back the 8.1 Engine !!

I hope they will bring back the 8.1 Engine !!

I doubt it, with MPG being the issue it is, and the technology of Turbo, superchargers, and especially Hybrid power trains with amazing torque out of electric engines, I can see a HD having 400 to 450 HP and 600 lb-trq with an electric power train and generator.

I hope they will bring back the 8.1 Engine !!

they could do a light turbo on the 6.0 and get the same power results with better fuel economy.

The 3/4 ton is not a big seller. Most go to businesses and that is where they will leave it.

I suspect in time the larger SUV models will get reduced down as it is a segment that will not do well as time goes forward. Many other MFG have already left the segment.

I had heard one GM engineer already say a couple years ago he said there was talk of leaving the larger segment at some point. With Tahoe sales doing well That I am sure is shelved but the time is running out on vehicles with high mass like this in large number's. GM may offer them but will try to limit sales to where they make money but not completely leave a segment.

I can remember a 3/4 Burb on every corner but anymore it is rare to see one that does not have a company name or highway department sign on it.

The 3/4 ton is not a big seller. Most go to businesses and that is where they will leave it.

 

I suspect in time the larger SUV models will get reduced down as it is a segment that will not do well as time goes forward. Many other MFG have already left the segment.

 

I had heard one GM engineer already say a couple years ago he said there was talk of leaving the larger segment at some point. With Tahoe sales doing well That I am sure is shelved but the time is running out on vehicles with high mass like this in large number's. GM may offer them but will try to limit sales to where they make money but not completely leave a segment.

 

I can remember a 3/4 Burb on every corner but anymore it is rare to see one that does not have a company name or highway department sign on it.

I disagree, there is still plenty of Mormons who love the Suburbans to haul their families and then plenty of people buying trailers to camp and travel North America. I suspect most other companies are happy to leave this to GM at this point and focus on other markets.

Now use a 450HP, 600lb ftt of torque electric motor with a battery pack that last 400 to 500 miles and these will be the rage again for everyone.

Still not enough Mormons to take up the loss in the market on the numbers they used to sell.

The fact is no matter how they play with the numbers they will still need to either sell more high mileage cars to counter them or not sell them at all. That is why so many have left already. I know the 3/4 segment gets a break but in time that will still not be enough unless GM can sell a lot of hybrid cars to counter that.

As for you Electric idea that is nice but ideas like that come cheap and pricing them to the point people will pay them on an already maxed out priced vehicle is difficult. Add to that the guys pulling trailers are generally not tree huggers and will not pony up the extra money to save a tree. On the converse the people who are saving trees will not buy anything this large. They generally set fire to them on dealer lots.

it is a good idea as if you increase the MPG on the more popular poor mileage models you will see more gain. But getting people in these segments to pay the extra cost. Not easy.

The thing is, the "normal" Suburban can handle most of the requirements that the old 3/4 tons could.  Most of the people who "needed" a Suburban 2500 10 years ago are probably finding the 1500 capable of doing everything they need today.  

Well the real volume went to the Tahoe. I can remember thinking no one would buy a smaller Suburban but I was as far off on that one as I ever could have been. I thought no one would down size and if they did they would buy the Blazer.

Well I watched as the Tahoe just devoured the market segment taking many sales from the larger model and all but finished off the Blazer.

But on the good side GM did not loose these sales and if anything gained more with Ford going FWD/AWD with their present Explorer.

They just have to get this sorted out to an acceptable model moving forward as they can not afford to loose these sales. While the CUV market is growing fast there is still a need for the Tahoe.

Well the real volume went to the Tahoe. I can remember thinking no one would buy a smaller Suburban but I was as far off on that one as I ever could have been. I thought no one would down size and if they did they would buy the Blazer.

Well I watched as the Tahoe just devoured the market segment taking many sales from the larger model and all but finished off the Blazer.

 

But on the good side GM did not loose these sales and if anything gained more with Ford going FWD/AWD with their present Explorer.

 

They just have to get this sorted out to an acceptable model moving forward as they can not afford to loose these sales. While the CUV market is growing fast there is still a need for the Tahoe.

Agreed... I just wish they had something in the GM stable that was more akin to the Grand Cherokee.  I like the Lambdas, but they are just too mini-van for me personally.  The GC is much more my cup of tea. 

 

 

Agreed... I just wish they had something in the GM stable that was more akin to the Grand Cherokee.  I like the Lambdas, but they are just too mini-van for me personally.  The GC is much more my cup of tea. 

 

Yes, GM really needs to target GMC against Jeep duo of Wrangler and GC. Alpha would be a good donor platform for that and also for amortization of the platform.

I agree they are too minivan like and it hurts to a point.

I have hopes a Colorado based SUV is in the works and not the Holden one as it is not a real looker.

2500HD needs to come to the Population but with the Baby V8 Duramax Diesel or at least with the option of pure CNG. This is just dragging out the inevitable that we will have it on the lots. Plenty of people want a 2500HD for towing their trailers and boats with people.

 

If they are not sure about all lines then make the 2500HD a Yukon XL Denali edition only with Diesel. That would be very profitable for them.

 

WAKE UP GM!

Like the diesel and the CNG idea...

Anyone can buy a fleet vehicle.  It's not like you must have special credentials or a business to buy one, you just need to talk to a dealer's fleet sales specialist, rather than a salesman.  Maybe some dealers would steer customers to a salesman, but I would think it's really up to the dealer what car gets sold, not GM.  They just build them, and deliver them to the dealer, they don't sell them.  I'm sure you could find a dealer willing to sell you one.

Not only that.. I'm pretty sure that some of the decision to not sell these willy nilly to the public comes because of CAFE. 

To the guy who mentioned a drop in market share.. GM market share is at 17.9% up.. from 17.7 last year as of May 2015. Ford Toyota, Nissan, and Hyundai.. were all DOWN

Not only that.. I'm pretty sure that some of the decision to not sell these willy nilly to the public comes because of CAFE. 

 

To the guy who mentioned a drop in market share.. GM market share is at 17.9% up.. from 17.7 last year as of May 2015. Ford Toyota, Nissan, and Hyundai.. were all DOWN

CAFE doesn't apply to trucks this large I believe. 

The idea that there's more profit from fleet or government sales doesn't make sense to me.  We bought a 2013 Suburban 2500 off the lot for our fire department once we realized we couldn't order another one.  With their government "bid assist" program we bought the Suburban well under what I would have ever been able to negotiate as a walk-in customer.

The thing is, the "normal" Suburban can handle most of the requirements that the old 3/4 tons could.  Most of the people who "needed" a Suburban 2500 10 years ago are probably finding the 1500 capable of doing everything they need today.