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General Motors Quietly Drops The 1500 Vans For 2015

By William Maley

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  • Farewell Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana 1500

PickupTrucks.com is reporting that General Motors will be quietly dropping the light-duty full-size vans in the 2015 model year. That means the only vans you can buy at a Chevrolet or GMC dealer will be the 2500, 3500 and 4500 versions. GM sales spokesman Jim Cain said the 1500 models only made up 23 percent of the Chevrolet Express and 7 percent of the GMC Savana.

"We recognize that the van space has changed radically. The 1500-series van was the last vehicle [of its type] that has been produced in North America that was under 8,500 pounds, and it had some very unique attributes to it," said Joe Langhauser, product manager for GM's full-size vans.

GM isn't worried about the customers who bought the 1500. Langhauser said that buyers could either move up to the 2500 or go with something smaller like the City Express, due out in the 2015 model year.

When asked about the 1500 model returning, Langhauser said it was possible.

Source: PickupTrucks.com

William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster.

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    Grand Master

    G. David Felt

    Members

    That is stupid to walk away form 23% market sales. I know many who have the old AWD full size vans and want another but nothing is out there and they do not want a CUV or SUV. GM is making a mistake in not supporting this porduct with a half ton van.

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    • loki

    In Hibernation

    think they plan to upgrade them to the lt1/6speeds? ...i'm not remembering the 'city express'

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    • Newbie

    ocnblu

    Members

    And it is extremely "looks challenged", with a crappy CVT. Suggesting to 1500 Express customers that they need to step down to... THAT, is laughable at best.

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    • Mentor

    smk4565

    Members

    I think GM will lose some sales, but perhaps the 1500 level wasn't really profitable and they don't care about losing those sales. I did read how the 1500 uses the older engines and they could save money buy closing that factory or reallocating it to make something else. This is a move that will lose sales, but save money at the same time, so from a business standpoint it probably makes sense. However, more business for Ford or Nissan.

    I saw an S-10 the other day and those were really small trucks. The Colorado is way bigger, and GM has no van smaller than the 2500 Express now other than a Nissan badge job. Sort of sad there there isn't a minivan or small van like the Astro or a small truck like the S10, even if they used a unibody set up, possibly adapted from the Theta platform. Ford has really got GM beat on commercial vehicles right now, although Ford doesn't have a little truck either.

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    • Grand Master

    G. David Felt

    Members

    I have stated many times that GM could win big if they would bring back a true mini pickup truck as city folks would love to have one for inner city work. Plenty of needs for a mini truck.

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    • Grand Master

    Drew Dowdell

    Editor-in-Chief

    I was going to suggest that Chevy or GMC do a commercial version of the Lambda.... but at the rate they are selling, they are probably pretty close to max capacity on that plant. 

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