Duramax-increased market share from 2-20%

[TxDoc]

"The GM-Isuzu Duramax 6.6-liter diesel V-8 engine, available in heavy-duty versions of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, has [b[catapulted GM's diesel pickup market share from 2 percent to more than 20 percent in the past two years[/b]."

Someone else posted a link to an AutoWeek article and this was an interesting part of it.

[FisHn2DMax]

There is no question the DuraMax did have the desired effect for GM's re-entry into the world class diesel engines for todays demanding light truck customers! However, this may not last long? With Truck sales softening in 2002, (with a few notable exceptions) it will be interesting to see how GM answers the challenge to the DuraMax via the NEw Ford and Dodge Diesel offerings?

Overall in 2002 the Chevy Avalanche was HOT! The New Dodge HD was also a HIT! All other trucks makes and models struggled in 2002 in spite of record factory incentives.

It's interesting to see that GMC Sierra only saw a -4% decrease for 2002, with major (positive) sales gains occuring in the 4th quarter 2002. Whereas the Chevrolet Silverado experienced a -9% decrease YTD in sales, but it too experienced a last minute year end surge in sales. Hummmm.... could the introduction of 2003 Chev silverado with the avalanche looking front clip explain this surge, or was it massive sales incentive program lauched by GM at year end? Either way, GMC Sierra out performed the Chevrolet Silverado in terms of percent of sales increase. The numbers would indicate that buyers are just now finally starting to accept that new Chev front end. It's amazing how fast $3000 cashback can suddenly change your mind on the looks of a truck or a Gal. Ha Ha... At first, I hated the 03 Chev look and bought a GMC. Today, the Chev's front end is growing on me? It's really not that bad, and can really look "Mean" with a chrome billet grill and brush bar.

If the Chevrolet Silverado is so ugly with the Avalanche style front clip, then how can one explain the 69% increase in sales of the Avalanche? Avalanche is the hottest selling truck of any make or model in this decade!

Recently released 2002 trucks sales numbers from Pickuptruck.com:

Top 10 Pickups
Year to Date, December 2002

Ford F-Series
813,701 -10.7% YTD
December 2002: 72,884
December 2001: 84,278

Chevrolet Silverado
652,646 -8.9%YTD
December 2002: 76,760
December 2001: 65,628

Dodge Ram
396,934 +15% YTD
December 2002: 34,812
December 2001: 30,253

Ford Ranger
226,094 -17.0% YTD
December 2002: 16,397
December 2001: 15,972

GMC Sierra
202,045 -3.9% YTD
December 2002: 22,160
December 2001: 18,929

Toyota Tacoma
151,960 -6.2% YTD
December 2002: 11,011
December 2001: 12,388

Chevrolet S-10
150,992 -6.9% YTD
December 2002: 13,563
December 2001: 12,042

Dodge Dakota
130,712 -15.0% YTD
December 2002: 8,581
December 2001: 11,543

Toyota Tundra
99,333 -8.8% YTD
December 2002: 7,880
December 2001: 9,244

Chevrolet Avalanche
89,372 +68.8% YTD
December 2002: 7,776
December 2001: 8,306

IMHO, the new 2004 Duramax HD truck offering needs to be a big hit if GM expects to continue with it's current success of increased diesel HD truck market share?
smile.gif

[ 02-04-2003: Message edited by: FisHn2DMax ]</p>

[mdadgar]

I think the problem with the 2003 Chevy styling is that they grafted a straight-edge styled nose on to a basically rounded truck body.

The Avalanche styling succeeds because it's ALL that straight-edged styling.

- Mark

[WillowCreekStable]

The '03 front end is growing on me too - kinda like fungus.

[cass]

Check out this Truck Trend article. http://www.motortrend.com/features/news/112_news8/it says that gm truck and suv sales are off 19% from Jan of last year and ford gained 4% while dodge dropped 10%. cass

[afp]

How caome they always lump ALL the Fords into one sum, but divide out Chevy and GMC? Ford always claims to be the #1 selling truck, but Chevy and GMC--which we all know are the same truck--when combined together have outsell the Fords.

Blaine

[ 02-05-2003: Message edited by: afp ]</p>

[FisHn2DMax]

I agree if you add up all the GM built trucks against all the ford built trucks, GM would outsell Ford in pickup trucks.

I also noted another glaring ommision in the 2002 final truck sales numbers. GMC also has a small truck "S-line"(Sonoma)it's the cousin to the chev s-10. For some reason it never seems to get included in any of the NEW truck sales numbers?

When you throw the SUV's into the mix, Ford/lincoln totally dominates sales in this class of vehicle! It's not even a close race! You would think with all the GM lines, Buick,Cad,Chev and GMC all cranking out many different SUV models, they would dominate, but they don't? However, GM does sell more pickup trucks than anyone else.

It's time for a DuraMax Yukon XL! That would put GM over the top!
smile.gif

[GMC Dealer]

FisHn2DMax
Where do you get your facts that Ford/Lincoln SUV sales beat GM SUV sales? In GM's new marketing blitz they state that "no one sells more SUV's than GM" I know this includes Azteks and Buick Rendezvous, but an SUV is an SUV. I just want to make sure that the facts are the facts

[TBC]

It is strange to me how Ford is dominating anything. When I travel I take note of vehicles just for passing time. I have always note more GM products, pickups and SUV's (never even pay attention to the small trucks) and I see way more GM products than Ford or Dodge. I have traveled the road recently very frequently in the panhandle of Texas and I can assure you that GM trucks dominate and there are a large number of Duramax powered trucks in the bunch. The GM HD trucks are all over the place up here. They are converted to flatbeds and just plain pickups and are very apparent,since this is farm and ranch country, heavily used for work. I also got to noticing the older vehicles. There must be an attempt by Ford to get them off the road because I don't see any old Fords just GM. Maybe the really is something to GM's claim that they build the longest lasting trucks on the road. I believe that GM also sells the most trucks including SUV's. This is truly Tahoe and Suburban country. One dealership at two locations in Dallas last year sold 2700 Tahoes.

[DmaxMaverick]

My take on this is such.

The only thing that Ford has ever claimed is "best selling".

What does that mean? Around here, and every where I've traveled, GM trucks have always dominated in numbers.

In the area that I live, I'll agree that the Fords are best selling. There are a bunch more on the used lots, compared to GM's. "Best selling", to me, means that the vehicle is sold more often than others. This means that the owners are replacing them more often. GM trucks on lots are almost always thousands $$ more than the same equipped, same year Fords.

Of course they are best selling. Nobody keeps them very long. Compare the depreciation rate and resale between the Ford and GM trucks. Ford can't compare.