After Mocking Aluminum Pickup Beds, GM Will Make The Move To Carbon Fiber

General Motors is developing carbon fiber beds for the premium trims on its pickup trucks as the high-end haulers continue to move upmarket, according to a new report in The Wall Street Journal. The lightweight beds could reportedly be ready in two years on the next generation of Chevrolet and GMC trucks.

The use of carbon fiber, which is stronger and much lighter than steel or aluminum, would take a material that's usually reserved for higher-end exotic cars and apply it to the most workaday of vehicles in a massive way. Pickup trucks sales make up about 15 percent of the overall automotive market in this country, and even though the company reportedly plans to save the carbon fiber bed option for its high-end trim levels, it would still be the largest use of the expensive material by a major American automaker to date—by far. General Motors sells around 800,000 full-size trucks a year.

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MDarringer - 12/7/2017 11:48:15 AM

+1 Boost

These types of vehicles should be the first to be lightened and turned hybrid.

TomM - 12/7/2017 3:01:29 PM

+1 Boost

GM had a Hybrid truck years ago - it failed to sell. THe problem is that with the Cargo capacity or towing capacity in the trucks - when used - resulted in only a small difference in efficiency - and it would justify it.

As far as lightened - GM trucks were (WHen both were steel) - almost always - lighter than Ford - and more so than RAM - although they were engineered to produce similar crash results.

The problem with light trucks is that they are actually TWO markets - people who actually use them as trucks - and others who use them as cars. THE trucks will need the steel beds - the high ends being used as cars do not. However - I will also bet that GM has a new form of Carbon FIber that does not crack as quickly too.

MDarringer - 12/7/2017 4:30:10 PM

+2 Boost

That "hybrid" was a mild hybrid and therefore was not a real hybrid. GM did "fake" hybrids to pretend they were doing hybrids.

Agent009 - 12/7/2017 12:06:51 PM

-4 Boost

I guess testing by dropping those pavers in the bed won't happen anymore, because carbon fiber cracks and breaks.

MDarringer - 12/7/2017 4:31:56 PM

+3 Boost

LOL

PUGPROUD - 12/7/2017 2:44:15 PM

+2 Boost

Competition is the foundation for innovation and consumer benefit.

wilfred - 12/7/2017 2:48:21 PM

+4 Boost

I think the fine prints are “premium trims” & “high-end haulers”. It will be a $8,000 option on that $80,000 truck that will never see much use other than recreational sports.