GM News: General Motors Having A Tough Time Keeping Up With Their Popular Truck Orders

[William Maley]

William Maley

Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com

October 1, 2013

2013 has been the year of the pickup truck with sales reaching levels that haven't been seen since the recession. If you're a truck manufacturer, the last thing you want to have happen is a hiccup when you're launching a new pickup. Unfortunately that is happening with General Motors.

According to Bloomberg, General Motors is facing a shortage of the 5.3L V8 for the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra due to a unnamed supplier not being able to keep up with demand. This is causing GM to restrict the number of V8 pickups that Chevrolet and GMC dealers can order.

Now General Motors is saying this is a temporary thing, but doesn't give a range of when they should be back to normal. This is a critical time since just over the horizon is the new Ford F-150.

Source: Bloomberg

William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster.

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[G. David Felt]

While this sucks, it is also a good thing for GM as it shows people realize they are building quality products and are demanding a quality American made, American Company products.

Yes I know NAFTA means these get build in Canada, US and Mexico. But still North American Made and US headquarter company.

Very happy they are having strong demand. Keep it up GM.

[TPhoenix]

Yikes. This is going to set back a few sales, but at least the demand is high. People will surely wait till production ramps up again.

[GMTruckGuy74]

From other places I've been reading this article at, some feel this is a way for GM to force dealers to order the 4.3L V6 EcoTec engine. It appears many dealers are focusing only on the 5.3L V8 EcoTec engine for their trucks, leaving the V6 for the base, regular cab, 2WD work-truck models. As one dealer posted, they had an allocation for 10 Silverado Crew Cabs but could only order 8 of them with the V8. Seems GM wants the dealers to start ordering more crew & double cab models with the new V6.

[G. David Felt]

I know everyone is all hot to trot for a powerful V6, but I am not sold that the V6 will truly last and not be an ugly eye sore on companies over the long haul. It will be interesting to see how these V6 hold up and the residual value they have after 2 and 4 yrs.

[GMTruckGuy74]

Quite honestly, the V6 should suffice many of the buyers out there that are replacing their CUV or sedan with the pickup aas their daily driver. The V8 is really needed for the person that will be hauling loads and towing trailers (need the extra torque and HP from a V8). Look at how many Ecoboost V6 F150s are being sold the past two years as proof that people will buy a double or crew cab 4WD pickup with a V6 engine! Personally I would not give up the opportunity to own a V8 powered pickup, but I am interested in test driving a new Sierra with the 4.3L V6 EcoTec engine out of curiousity.

[Drew Dowdell]

The old 4.3, while no powerhouse, did just fine on reliability thanks.

[ocnblu]

It was so understressed it was, like, indestructible. For a reg cab shortbed, 300+ horsepower would do just fine. My '07 Sierra with 5.3 was rated at 315 hp... barely a tick above the new 4.3.

Although this new 4.3 is fantastic... I do agree with dfelt in that resale value will likely, as a percentage, be lower for the 6 cylinder than the V8.

And GMTG74... although I'd hate to think that after they spent the development dollars on the new 6, you might be not far from the truth. I'd be interested in seeing what CUSTOMERS are factory ordering, as opposed to dealers, for GM, and for Dodge and Ford, all with updated, high-hp base sixes.

Edited October 5, 2013 by ocnblu

[Z-06]

The old 4.3, while no powerhouse, did just fine on reliability thanks.

GMT800 had the LS5.3 making 285 hp with a little over 300 lb-ft of torque. This 4.3 will match those ratings with a better fuel economy.

If I was in a market for a truck with no need for towing capabilities with occasional heavy lifting needs, I would go with the single cab V6 with Z71 package.

[ocnblu]

Cool, that would be what I'd get if I could afford it.

[ZL-1]

Isn't this "oh we're having trouble with V8 powered truck dealer orders" a (perhaps CAFE-induced) way to shove V6 models into dealer lots? I mean, irrespective of the V6's qualities dealers will have a tendency to boast the 2 extra cylinders to prospective costumers and they'll order from GM accordingly.

This reminds me of how different the car shopping experience is in the US, it seems, when compared to Europe: over here we usually spec our cars and then go to a dealer, or go to a dealer and spec the cars withthe salesperson. Most of us when buying new will order the car to the desired spec and wait for it. In the US it seems like much more of going to the dealer who has a fairly large inventory sitting there and one just picks; very supermarket-like...

[Z-06]

Yes, mostly in US, a customer waiting to buy what he wants is outnumbered by a customer who kicks the tires and purchases the vehicle the same day.

There are many things that contribute to it. But it certainly changes the dynamics for equipments such as manual transmissions, or engine choices, or handling packages, or special order featues for the lot ready vehicles. In someway it is a gamble for both the companies and dealers to suffice such environment.

There are times when dealers ask you to make a deposit to ensure a car is brought on the lot for a "test drive".