Unable To Sell At Market, GM Putting Medium Duty Trucks Out To Pasture

Posted by Mike Levine | June 8, 2009

Chevrolet Kodiak

Unable to find a buyer for its medium-duty truck line, General Motors has announced it will stop making the Chevrolet Kodiak and GMC Top Kick trucks by July 31, 2009.

GM had been in negotiations with Isuzu and Navistar to sell the C4500, C5500 and C6500 commercial truck business but a deal was never closed.

In memory of GM's medium-duty trucks, here's a fond look back at the first time we saw the Chevy model at the 2000 SEMA show, where the Bruin pickup debuted.

Comments

Sorry to see them go, great product. But, it really doesn't make much sense for car companies to build these things.

Posted by: Big Bob | Jun 8, 2009 10:20:45 PM

And another one bites the dust!

Posted by: Ford F-450 Lives | Jun 9, 2009 2:36:00 AM

These trucks were monstrous, but very cool kind a downsized looking rigs - it's great, that America built cars like that, but the problem is, that most of the people were well fitted with the standard pick up's series - up to 3500 HD (3,5 T)...

Posted by: ARON | Jun 9, 2009 4:27:26 AM

I see this as one of the great American made products/product lines that most Americans won't even notice, let alone understand the impact of losing. It's a sad but I guess necessary step on the road to GM's hopeful recovery.

Posted by: WestPhillyForever | Jun 9, 2009 1:12:20 PM

Oil prices just crossed $70/barrel. There is no market for these heavy vehicles. Good that they decided to retire these vehicles, it will save them cash.

Ideally these vehicles should be converted to Buses/Mini-buses to ply in Cities. By taking 10-20 passengers, it will reduce the usage of so many private vehicles and also the gas consumption.

Eventually many Big SUV's may be converted run Shuttle services.

Posted by: Max Reid | Jun 9, 2009 4:40:13 PM

Very few of these trucks were sold as pickups to private people. These trucks were medium duty commercial trucks, sold to businesses, public utilities, and municipalities. Like Internationals, Peterbilts, ect..

Posted by: Big Bob | Jun 9, 2009 9:37:27 PM

Save the planet! Ride the bus. It will transport you to each of your jobsites and will haul all 2000# of your equipment.

Posted by: GasGuzzler | Jun 13, 2009 2:57:37 PM

LET'S SEE IF A HYBRID WILL TOW 18,000 POUNDS

Posted by: los | Dec 22, 2009 12:17:01 PM