GM’s Midsize Pickup Gamble Pays Off

Sales of the all-new midsize pickup trucks General Motors Co. introduced in the U.S. 12 months ago are running well ahead of expectations, notes Automotive News.

The Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon siblings replace models in a segment GM abandoned three years earlier as buyers flocked to fullsize pickups.

GM sold about 95,000 of the trucks in the first 10 months of 2015, beating full-year forecasts by analysts. They attribute the success to a broad array of models, trim levels, options and accessories.

The wide choice for buyers has helped hike the average selling price for the Colorado and Canyon to $31,800 and $34,100, respectively. Both figures top the $30,000 average for the Toyota Tacoma pickup, which dominates the segment.

Analysts tell AN the new trucks don’t appear to be cannibalizing sales from GM’s fullsize trucks. They also point out that the initial success of the Colorado/Canyon models is prompting a possible revival of similarly sized pickups from Ford and Chrysler.