GM Prioritizing Pickup Production Over Crossovers, Sedans

<img data-attachment-id=”1769300″ data-permalink=”https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/07/chip-shortage-leads-to-dead-cars-on-factory-lots-gm-halts-truck-production/a-2020-chevrolet-silverado-hd-in-the-trim-shop-on-thursday-janu/” data-orig-file=”https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/GMFlintSilverado70.jpg” data-orig-size=”3000,2000″ data-comments-opened=”1″ data-image-meta=”{“aperture”:”4.5″,”credit”:”John F. Martin for Chevrolet”,”camera”:”Canon EOS 5D Mark III”,”caption”:”A 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD in the trim shop on Thursday, January 24, 2019 at General Motors Flint Assembly in Flint, Michigan. (Photo by John F. Martin for Chevrolet)”,”created_timestamp”:”1548865370″,”copyright”:”\u00a9 2019 John F. Martin and General Motors. This image is protected by copyright but provided for editorial and social media use.”,”focal_length”:”24″,”iso”:”640″,”shutter_speed”:”0.016666666666667″,”title”:”A 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD in the trim shop on Thursday, Janu”,”orientation”:”1″}” data-image-title=”A 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD in the trim shop on Thursday, Janu” data-image-description=”

GM

” data-medium-file=”http://turbosaga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gm-prioritizing-pickup-production-over-crossovers-sedans-2.jpg” data-large-file=”http://turbosaga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gm-prioritizing-pickup-production-over-crossovers-sedans.jpg” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1769300″ src=”http://turbosaga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gm-prioritizing-pickup-production-over-crossovers-sedans.jpg” alt width=”610″ height=”407″ srcset=”http://turbosaga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gm-prioritizing-pickup-production-over-crossovers-sedans.jpg 610w, http://turbosaga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gm-prioritizing-pickup-production-over-crossovers-sedans-1.jpg 75w, http://turbosaga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gm-prioritizing-pickup-production-over-crossovers-sedans-2.jpg 450w, http://turbosaga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gm-prioritizing-pickup-production-over-crossovers-sedans-3.jpg 768w, http://turbosaga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gm-prioritizing-pickup-production-over-crossovers-sedans-4.jpg 120w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>

General Motors will resume full-size pickup assembly next week, leaving its crossovers will have to continue enduring production hang-ups related to the semiconductor shortage. American manufacturers have been absolutely creamed by supply shortages this year and a lack of chips really hurt pickup volumes. We’ve seen a lot of creative solutions, including automakers putting unfinished vehicles on the lot in hopes that they can install the missing hardware later.

But GM’s latest solution involves prioritizing Michigan’s Flint Assembly, Indiana’s Fort Wayne Assembly, Silao Assembly in Mexico — all of which were previously idled or operating on reduced schedules. Unfortunately, that means giving other North American facilities more downtime and, sadly, plenty of it. 

According to Automotive News, this includes Kansas City’s Fairfax Assembly — which has been idled since February — and five other factories located in North America. The facility was supposed to return to normal at the start of this month, which was later revised for the end of August. However, the newest plan leaves Cadillac XT4 production offline until September 20th, with Chevrolet Malibu assembly now being a giant question mark.

Lansing Grand River Assembly, responsible for the Cadillac CT4 and CT5, has been down since May and just got a two-week extension on its current production leave. Assembly isn’t likely to resume until the very end of August.

San Luis Potosi Assembly has enjoyed more production time than most North American facilities this year. But it’s getting another three weeks of downtime before resuming production of the Chevy Equinox and GMC Terrain. Those models will be back on the assembly line on August 23rd.

That just leaves GM’s Lansing Delta Township, Spring Hill, and Ramos Arizpe facilities — all of which will be getting just one more week off. But we’ve learned not to assume anything in 2021, especially since this is just one of dozens of scheduling changes that had to be revised by automakers. If chip supplies don’t stabilize, we anticipate the manufacturer prioritizing Lansing — so it can get more Chevrolet Traverses and Buick Enclaves on the lot Ramos Arizpe — which builds the Chevy Blazer and Equinox — also has a good chance of getting preferential treatment. Though the whole gang is supposed to be fully operational by August 2nd.

General Motors is just one automaker contending with this industrywide disaster, however. This week saw Mercedes-Benz and BMW also cutting production, citing supply chain problems. Meanwhile, Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida was expressing his pensiveness about the ongoing semiconductor shortage to the media despite his company turning a profit for the first time in a while.

“Knowing the current situation … we cannot be optimistic,” Uchida told CNBC on Wednesday. “I think this is day-by-day still.”

[Image: General Motors]

Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to the truth about cars first by subscribing to our newsletter here.

For GREAT deals on a new or used Toyota check out Right Toyota TODAY!

Chevrolet Electric Silverado A ZERO Production

Silverado

Chevrolet’s Silverado electric pickup will be built at the Factory Zero assembly plant in Detroit-Hamtramck, Michigan, along with GMC’s Hummer EV SUV which will also be produced there, General Motors president Mark Reuss said today.

Silverado

A new-from-the-ground-up EV pickup, and not adapted from the gas-powered Silverado, it will use the Ultium Platform. Ultium is General Motors’ virtual development tools and technology, said to have reduced development nearly 50 percent to 26 months.

Chevrolet estimates the new Silverado EV will have a 400-mile range on a full charge. Like its gas-powered sibling, there will be retail and fleet versions of the EV, both expected to be in demand. “Chevrolet will take everything Chevy’s loyal truck buyers love about Silverado — and more — and put it into an electric pickup that will delight retail and commercial customers alike,” said Reuss.

Factory ZERO, General Motors’ renamed Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant, signifies the company’s zero crashes, zero emissions, and zero congestion outlook for the future. ZERO is the largest renovation and retooling ever for a General Motors manufacturing plant. Its paint and body shop, along with the general assembly area, are getting upgrades including new machinery, conveyors, controls, and tooling. The plant’s footprint is now over 4.5 million square feet.

Silverado

General Motors previously hawked its modular propulsion system and Ultium battery-powered global EV platforms. The company is definitely looking to compete head-to-head for customers wherever they may exist. Ultium is a joint venture with LG in Lordstown, Ohio to produce battery cells for future battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Construction of that facility is underway.

General Motors world domination plan calls for a million EVs by 2025, and North American EV leadership. How will this work out with the power grid, President Biden’s future vision, and infrastructure improvements?

[Images: General Motors]

Cadillac to Expand V-Series Performance Lineup, Blackwing

<img data-attachment-id=”1753952″ data-permalink=”https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/03/cadillac-to-expand-v-series-performance-lineup-blackwing/the-ct5-v-blackwing-will-be-the-most-powerful-and-fastest-cadill/” data-orig-file=”http://turbosaga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cadillac-to-expand-v-series-performance-lineup-blackwing-7.jpg” data-orig-size=”1280,853″ data-comments-opened=”1″ data-image-meta=”{“aperture”:”5″,”credit”:””,”camera”:”Canon EOS 5DS”,”caption”:”The CT5-V Blackwing will be the most powerful and fastest Cadillac ever. Descended from the brand\u2019s racing legacy, this vehicle elevates V-Series\u2019 heritage of performance, styling and meticulous refinement.”,”created_timestamp”:”1607027495″,”copyright”:””,”focal_length”:”125″,”iso”:”100″,”shutter_speed”:”0.004″,”title”:”The CT5-V Blackwing will be the most powerful and fastest Cadill”,”orientation”:”1″}” data-image-title=”The CT5-V Blackwing will be the most powerful and fastest Cadill” data-image-description=”

Cadillac

” data-medium-file=”http://turbosaga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cadillac-to-expand-v-series-performance-lineup-blackwing-4.jpg” data-large-file=”http://turbosaga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cadillac-to-expand-v-series-performance-lineup-blackwing.jpg” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1753952″ src=”http://turbosaga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cadillac-to-expand-v-series-performance-lineup-blackwing.jpg” alt width=”610″ height=”407″ srcset=”http://turbosaga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cadillac-to-expand-v-series-performance-lineup-blackwing.jpg 610w, http://turbosaga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cadillac-to-expand-v-series-performance-lineup-blackwing-3.jpg 75w, http://turbosaga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cadillac-to-expand-v-series-performance-lineup-blackwing-4.jpg 450w, http://turbosaga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cadillac-to-expand-v-series-performance-lineup-blackwing-5.jpg 768w, http://turbosaga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cadillac-to-expand-v-series-performance-lineup-blackwing-6.jpg 120w, http://turbosaga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cadillac-to-expand-v-series-performance-lineup-blackwing-7.jpg 1280w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>

As much as we like to chide domestic automakers for abandoning traditional cars for the juicier margins of crossover vehicles, they haven’t done away with them entirely. Cadillac even went so far as to introduce Blackwing variants of the CT4-V and the CT5-V in 2021, something many claimed was necessary after the V-Series lost some of its mightiness when the new models arrived. Apparently, General Motors wants its luxury division to keep it up with the Blackwing models while it continues to expand the V-Series lineup.

“The V-Series lineup has expanded,” Cadillac Chief Engineer Tony Roma told GM Authority in a recent interview. “You’re going to see more of that in the future. We’re going to do more V-Series. It’s important to our brand and you’ll see it on other products.”

If you’ve driven the old ATS-V, you know that the CT4-V doesn’t really stack up around the corners or in a straight line. The newer Caddy is more about keeping pace with perceived European rivals while the older one was about making them all your bitch. Prices reflect this, so Cadillac’s biggest crime here is diluting the V-Series name. While it still denotes an uptick in performance, it’s no longer the kind of jump that totally transforms a vehicle — hence the need for the hardcore Blackwing line.

<img data-attachment-id=”1753966″ data-permalink=”https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/03/cadillac-to-expand-v-series-performance-lineup-blackwing/the-ct4-v-blackwing-will-be-the-most-powerful-and-fastest-cadill-3/” data-orig-file=”http://turbosaga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cadillac-to-expand-v-series-performance-lineup-blackwing-12.jpg” data-orig-size=”1280,853″ data-comments-opened=”1″ data-image-meta=”{“aperture”:”11″,”credit”:””,”camera”:”Canon EOS 5DS”,”caption”:”The CT4-V Blackwing will be the most powerful and fastest Cadillac ever in the subcompact class. The CT4-V Blackwing is more nimble, and benefits from extensive aerodynamic development and testing.”,”created_timestamp”:”1606927045″,”copyright”:””,”focal_length”:”46″,”iso”:”400″,”shutter_speed”:”0.003125″,”title”:”The CT4-V Blackwing will be the most powerful and fastest Cadill”,”orientation”:”1″}” data-image-title=”The CT4-V Blackwing will be the most powerful and fastest Cadill” data-image-description=”

Cadillac

” data-medium-file=”http://turbosaga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cadillac-to-expand-v-series-performance-lineup-blackwing-9.jpg” data-large-file=”http://turbosaga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cadillac-to-expand-v-series-performance-lineup-blackwing-1.jpg” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1753966″ src=”http://turbosaga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cadillac-to-expand-v-series-performance-lineup-blackwing-1.jpg” alt width=”610″ height=”407″ srcset=”http://turbosaga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cadillac-to-expand-v-series-performance-lineup-blackwing-1.jpg 610w, http://turbosaga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cadillac-to-expand-v-series-performance-lineup-blackwing-8.jpg 75w, http://turbosaga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cadillac-to-expand-v-series-performance-lineup-blackwing-9.jpg 450w, http://turbosaga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cadillac-to-expand-v-series-performance-lineup-blackwing-10.jpg 768w, http://turbosaga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cadillac-to-expand-v-series-performance-lineup-blackwing-11.jpg 120w, http://turbosaga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cadillac-to-expand-v-series-performance-lineup-blackwing-12.jpg 1280w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>

This is where we get slightly worried. If Cadillac starts throwing the V-Series around too liberally, it’s going to lose all meaning. Fortunately, the brand seems to understand that it’s already walking a tightrope when it comes to performance designations.

“Blackwing is reserved for really the pinnacle, the purest expression of performance, track capability, and that’s what it’s going to stand for going forward,” said Roma. “[The CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blacking] won’t be the last Blackwing cars that we do, but you won’t see one on every vehicle. It’s not appropriate. I couldn’t imagine doing an Escalade-V Blackwing. Maybe we’d do an SUV, maybe we’d do an Escalade-V, who knows.”

Cadillac is already supposed to be developing an amped-up Escalade with the same supercharged 6.2-liter LT4 V8 that’s supposed to go into the CT5-V Blackwing. We think GM would be wise to make it part of the V-Series family, as it would showcase that the name does indeed denote enhanced performance. But sticking a Blackwing badge on something that’s pushing three tons and has trouble holding 0.6 Gs of lateral acceleration would only diminish the title.

But what should be the next Blackwing model? The luxury brand has already given its road-hugging vehicles the full treatment, leaving us with a slew of crossover vehicles to choose from. Perhaps the name won’t see much expansion until Cadillac has started its electric vehicle offensive in earnest. We can’t really say, but imagine the world will see a V attached to the tailgate of models like the XT4 and Escalade in the coming years. In fact, we’ve heard rumors that GM is whipping up something speedier for the Chinese market and think it could be an XT6-V. But nobody has been able to confirm anything more than there being numerous models under consideration for future performance applications.

<img data-attachment-id=”1753956″ data-permalink=”https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/03/cadillac-to-expand-v-series-performance-lineup-blackwing/the-ct5-v-blackwing-will-be-the-most-powerful-and-fastest-cadill-3/” data-orig-file=”http://turbosaga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cadillac-to-expand-v-series-performance-lineup-blackwing-17.jpg” data-orig-size=”1280,853″ data-comments-opened=”1″ data-image-meta=”{“aperture”:”5″,”credit”:””,”camera”:”Canon EOS 5DS”,”caption”:”The CT5-V Blackwing will be the most powerful and fastest Cadillac ever. Descended from the brand\u2019s racing legacy, this vehicle elevates V-Series\u2019 heritage of performance, styling and meticulous refinement.”,”created_timestamp”:”1607195626″,”copyright”:””,”focal_length”:”88″,”iso”:”500″,”shutter_speed”:”0.001″,”title”:”The CT5-V Blackwing will be the most powerful and fastest Cadill”,”orientation”:”1″}” data-image-title=”The CT5-V Blackwing will be the most powerful and fastest Cadill” data-image-description=”

Cadillac

” data-medium-file=”http://turbosaga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cadillac-to-expand-v-series-performance-lineup-blackwing-14.jpg” data-large-file=”http://turbosaga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cadillac-to-expand-v-series-performance-lineup-blackwing-2.jpg” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1753956″ src=”http://turbosaga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cadillac-to-expand-v-series-performance-lineup-blackwing-2.jpg” alt width=”610″ height=”407″ srcset=”http://turbosaga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cadillac-to-expand-v-series-performance-lineup-blackwing-2.jpg 610w, http://turbosaga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cadillac-to-expand-v-series-performance-lineup-blackwing-13.jpg 75w, http://turbosaga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cadillac-to-expand-v-series-performance-lineup-blackwing-14.jpg 450w, http://turbosaga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cadillac-to-expand-v-series-performance-lineup-blackwing-15.jpg 768w, http://turbosaga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cadillac-to-expand-v-series-performance-lineup-blackwing-16.jpg 120w, http://turbosaga.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cadillac-to-expand-v-series-performance-lineup-blackwing-17.jpg 1280w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>

[Images: General Motors]

For GREAT deals on a new or used Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep or RAM check out Patterson Tyler Group TODAY!