Another One Bites the Dust

June 10, 2009
GM halts production of medium-duty trucks
This is getting depressing. The "New GM" is not going to include the Chevy Kodiak or GMC Topkick Class-5 through -7 medium-duty trucks. The General announced this week that it would halt production of its venerable work trucks on July 31, after efforts to sell off the line to both Navistar and Isuzu over the past few years failed to come to fruition. To make matters worse, I received an e-mail today from GM, announcing the company's 2010 model line-up, and... it's a pretty short list. No Saturn, of course, as well as no Saab and no Hummer, and only the 2010 Vibe listed under Pontiac (although they say the G6 will still be available to fleets). I clicked on "GM Fleet and Commercial" and sure enough, all that's listed under "Commercial Vans and Trucks" are the full-size GMC Savanna and Chevy Express Vans, and the somewhat silly Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon "Astro Package." Meanwhile, Roger Penske, fresh off his team's win at Indy, has swooped in to buy Saturn, which is good news. That division was selling some nice vehicles, and, let's face it: everything Mr. Penske touches turns to gold. If only he had been willing to buy GM's medium-truck line, to provide private-label vehicles to his truck leasing business...

About the Author

Mark O'Connell | Fleet Maintenance contributor

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