Good article from Bloomberg, look like '18 is going to be a no holds barred match among the big 3 for trucks.

The only thing this article leaves off is the new truck coming out of Jeep and this time the truck will be based upon the Jeep Wrangler and expect its going to pull a lot of sales in the light duty market. IMO in the Superduty market I think Ford is holding the cards and its theirs to lose. All this bids well for us the buyers.


Worth your time to read

Ford’s momentum with F-Series model line is targeted by rivals

Forget about electric cars with fuzzy prospects for profit or robotaxis that don’t yet exist. Detroit’s real big-money grudge match is over pickup trucks -- and it’s about to get nasty.

General Motors Co. and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV are planning to show redesigned full-size models at the Detroit auto show in January and start selling them later in the year. Both are trying to steal back some of the momentum that rival Ford Motor Co. has generated by overhauling its F-150 and bigger Super Duty trucks.

The stakes are massive. Detroit’s three automakers sell more than 2 million large pickups a year in the U.S., generating annual revenue of more than $90 billion. Morningstar Inc. estimates that profits are at least $10,000 per truck -- and even more for high-end models -- compared with about $3,000 for passenger cars. That’s why the three companies invest so much to develop their pickups, and fight hard for every sale.

“There will be a pickup war this year,” said Morningstar analyst David Whiston. “It will make a fiercely competitive market even more competitive than it has been.”


The Detroit Three will battle it out in two ways. First, Fiat Chrysler will start selling its new truck around the end of the first quarter, and GM will begin building the new Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups around the beginning of the fourth quarter, said Dave Sullivan, manager of product analysis for market researcher AutoPacific Inc.

While they prepare those new models, the automakers also will continue to offer discounts to move older trucks within a broader U.S. auto market that’s slowly shrinking. In November, GM’s Chevy had discounts of $5,343 on the Silverado, while Fiat Chrysler’s Ram offered an average deal of about $5,000. Ford’s F-Series has discounts of $4,135, according to data from J.D. Power. GM trucks have higher prices, so its discounts are smaller on a percentage basis than what Fiat Chrysler offers, said Jim Cain, a GM spokesman.

Newly designed models usually require less discounting and by the end of 2018 all three will have brand-new trucks or, in Ford’s case, pretty fresh ones, Sullivan said.

GM Revamp

GM’s new models will showcase a big change in the nuts and bolts that make trucks a practical, yet popular choice, Sullivan said. With every new model, GM has been adding aluminum or lightweight steel, taking out hundreds of pounds of weight. That will boost fuel economy and possibly help towing capabilities, he said.

Read the rest: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...n-pickup-fight

 

I fell into the trap of getting the "new redesigned 2500hd diesel" in 2011, DON'T BUY THE FIRST YEAR OF A REDESIGNED TRUCK FROM CHEVY. If I have one more def system issue I will go off the deep end. It's been in to service A LOT.

 

I see there going with the Aluminum box on the New GMC/Chev well, well, well Lets drop some toolboxes now!

 

Chevy revealed the 2019 Silverado 1500 today in Texas. Note the twin big-bar grille almost identical to Ford. The downsloping rear roof, similar to the Colorado, may not sit well with commercial buyers who want seat 5-6 big guys in a crew cab.

 

I thought Chevy had square wheel wells and Ford had round.

 

Will be interesting to see if Chevy comes up with anything worthwhile. Their trucks have been falling behind year after year for a while now.

 

They look a lot like the Ford.

 

I miss the square wheelwell openings...truck doesn't look GM-ish!!!

 

The rear end looks exactly like a Tundra, lots of design borrowing going on with that thing, but it does look good. I'm sure it will sell well in the 1/2 ton segment.

 

Exactly Tricon, it looks like a blend of Toyota with a few Ford styling cues like the front grill bars. Jees, not original at all. I got a nice big heavy tool box I want to throw in that new truck from a distance 😱

 

Good luck GM with that rig. The lines look like a 50's Buick, or the current Impala. YUK! Another GM creation they try to bring to the party late in an ugly dress. Less than shocking.

 

Looks are subjective, my first impression is wow!

 

You haven't been following the spy shot articles as of late showing they rounded them. This was really no surprise unless of course, you weren't paying attention.

 

After seeing the pictures I don't think Ford has anything to worry about, looks like a Tundra. Even if they made a good looking truck the HD would still have a front suspension that belongs in a half ton.

 

Moved to Ford vs. the competition forum.