It would make sense that in the most profitable vehicle segment — full-size pickups — you would find the most heated rivalry. That certainly holds true between America’s two largest automakers, Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) and General Motors Company (NYSE:GM). In the world of trucks you’re either a Ford or a Chevy guy, and that’s that — there’s no switching sides or gray area. The rivalry is stuff of legends, and while Ford has been dominating truck sales since the recession, GM now has one thing it can tout over its crosstown rival, at least for now: its No. 1 safety rating. Will that help the Silverado in its push to finally top the F-Series for the best-selling truck?
I doubt it. Here’s why.
King of the hill
Graph by author; 0information from Automotive News Data Center. 2013 projected from sales through July.
Graph by author; information from Autmotive News DataCenter. 2013 projected from sales through July.
Once again, since the recession Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) has widened the sales gap even when you combine Silverado and Sierra sales. Right now General Motors Company (NYSE:GM) is pushing back, with both of its trucks receiving complete redesigns for the 2014 model, while the next-generation F-150 is a year away. This may be GM’s small window of opportunity to gain ground, and sales for the Silverado and Sierra have surged 45% and 49%, respectively, for July as the new designs hit showrooms across the nation.
To follow up a great sales performance in July, the 2014 Silverado and Sierra just received a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Those two are the first full-size pickups to get the highest safety rating possible since the tougher judging system was implemented three years ago.
“Silverado and Sierra set a benchmark for pickup truck safety by offering a full array of advanced features designed to protect occupants before, during, and after a collision,” Gay Kent, General Motors Company (NYSE:GM) general director of vehicle safety and crashworthiness, said in a statement, according to Automotive News.
Why it doesn’t matter
Graph by authorl information from Consumer Reports.