GM To Follow Ford With Aluminum Body Pickups By 2018

General Motors Co. is working towards a largely aluminum-bodied pickup truck by late 2018, under pressure from federal fuel efficiency standards, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

GM recently locked-in supply contracts with Alcoa Inc. and Novelis Inc. and both suppliers are now working to increase their aluminum sheet production to supply the next-generation GM pickup, according to the Journal.

Aluminum sheet for automotive bodies is in such high demand that companies need to order it years in advance, the newspaper said.

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trmckin - 2/19/2014 4:32:21 PM

+2 Boost

i wonder what ford and GM fanboys are going to argue over now? Wheel well shape?

MattDarringer - 2/19/2014 8:38:38 PM

+2 Boost

This just shows that the "all new" Silverado and Sierra were anything but "all new"

THESCOOTER - 2/20/2014 7:19:53 AM

+2 Boost

Uh, well played. "They have it, so will we" (once we figure it out). Launch fail.
Ford demonstrating what it takes to be the leader - risk.

carsnyc - 2/20/2014 9:16:11 AM

0 Boost

LOL, they had to. Ford and Cadillac are the only two trying to do something. Buick is a rebranded Opel, Chevy is just still Chevy, Chrysler/Dodge no comments, and Lincoln is more dead than the president.

quizz - 2/20/2014 1:05:37 PM

+1 Boost

Truck lovers buy your steel body trucks NOW, because prices are going through the roof due to this cosmetic change. Seriously, this is a working car, meant to be abused. Moving to aluminum is interesting and lighter, but ultimately, part of the cost of doing business for 80% of the buyers and not a big deal. Going to aluminum is normally a consumer play.

But marketing being what it is, I understand GM being left with no choice but to "keep up with the Joneses". On the flip side, it's only a matter of weeks before RAM makes the same announcement. For CERTAIN, aluminum costs will skyrocket, ugh, absolutely an unnecessary cost and not worth the gains.

reaganeatbrains - 2/20/2014 3:04:38 PM

+1 Boost

I know DOZENS of truck owners that will be happy their truck doesn't rust out before the engine dies. That goes beyond cosmetics.