Until recently, time has worked against General Motors and the automotive industry. With the downfall of the economy, the sales of General Motor automotives have been dropping drastically. But there is hope. Signs are showing the the economy is soon going to take a turn for the better, and GM hopes to be right there reaping the benefits. What are they most confident about? Their 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and their GMC Sierra full-size pickups.
According to the president of General Motor's operations in the United States, trucks are at the core of GM's business model. To him, the timing to release the 2013 Silverado and the Sierra full-size pickups is perfect. And, as we all know, timing is everything.
Over the past 5 years, sales of vehicles like the Silverado and the Sierra took a turn for the worse. Very few people were buying trucks for personal use, not only because of their price, but also because they simply couldn't afford the gas. And while the president of GM is not expecting the personal use of their models to increase in the next few years, what they do expect is an increase in the use of trucks for business purposes. Joe Phillippi of AutoTrends Consulting predicts that their will be a significant boost in truck sales for contracts, fleets, and other work truck customers in the next few years. During the recession, the market share of such vehicles dropped to less than 12% during the recession, but is expected to bounce back up by 1 or 2 percent in the next year or two.
As you would expect, General Motors will not be without it's competition. America's best selling truck, the Ford F-Series, is definitely expected to take a few sales away from GM. Another model that will be competition for GM is the 2013 Ram 1500 developed by Chrysler. Of course, GM has already forseen this competition. So what did they do? They upped the anti of course! More than just a "refresh" of their older models, the new GM models will take a completely new evolutionary stance.
Older versions of the Chevrolet Silverado have been aimed towards a rougher and tumbler audience, while the newer 2014 version is said to be targeted more towards a more maintstream audience. As for the Sierra, this is expected to reflect a more "professional" side of GMC, targeting business professionals to avoid being labeled as a "work" truck.
Both the Sierra and the Silverado have been developed with features that will make them more distinct in order to stand out from their competition. A few new additions include built in rear bumper steps, cargo tie-dows, and damped cargo bed tailgates that make them easier to close. Other new additions include protective cargo bed clamps and projector headlamps.
The owners of GMC are always up-to-date with the hottest, most recent, and ongoing trends in the truck market. In keeping up with trends, no GMC model is without a completely modern interior. Inside the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and the GMC Sierra, you will find cabins that are similar to those of passenger cars. Both incorporate padded seats, plush finishes, and heated cloth seats.
According to Phillippi, the exteriors of the GMC are "evolutionary", but the interiors are an "uptick". Of course, no modern vehicle would be complete without the most recent digital technology. Both the Silverado and the Sierra incorporate the newest infotainment systems, along with GMC's IntelliLink, and the ChevyMyLink. Wifi capability is also optional.
And one of the biggest selling points of any truck? Safety. Each new GMC truck model comes along with standard airbags and electronic stability control. More advanced features are also available including Forward Collission Alert and Lane Departure Warning. And the newest safety feature to reach GMC models? Safety seats. These are seats that "shake" when there is an obstacle blocking your path on the road ahead. Even more technologically advanced is that they shake the seat in the direction of the obstacle.
If all turns out as it is supposed to, the new Chevrolet and GMC models will be hitting the market right when the excitement for trucks is on the uprise.
Read the Original Article at: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/gm-bets-economic-growth-unveils-new-trucks-1C7592291
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