http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/GMC-Topkick2-400x266.jpg

Hot on the heels of announcing impressive payload and towing figures for its Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra Heavy-Duty trucks; General Motors has stated that it is seriously looking to re-enter the medium duty truck market. Last year, the General exited this segment, winding down production of its Chevrolet Kodiak and GMC Topkick class 5-7 trucks, after deals to sell the medium-duty business to Isuzu and Navistar International fell through.

However, in an about turn, it looks like the General might return to the segment. According to Joyce Mattman, Director of GM's Commercial Vehicle operations, there are several different strategies that could be taken. One is to go after the class 5/6 market, in which the Kodiak and TopKick competed, but another is to go for the class 4/5 segment, the realm of 1-ton chassis cabs, which are popular with small delivery firms and contractors. "We've competed in class 4 before," says Mattman. "Our C3500 HD was popular and the thing our customers liked about it, was that it had a light-duty pickup cab and they could get between houses and down alleys for deliveries and utility work, places where many traditional medium-duty trucks can't."

Given that Ford and Ram already compete in the 4/5 category with their F-450 and 4500 chassis cab rigs, a GM entry would seem a no-brainer, aided by the fact that such a truck could use much of the existing Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra HD hardware. In the meantime with a sizable void in the market, GM commercial dealers are doing what they can to survive, selling left-over Kodiak and TopKick vehicles to those customers who still want a medium-duty GM truck.

More: GM May Re-Enter Medium-Duty Truck Market (http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2010/05/gm-may-re-enter-medium-duty-truck-market.html) on AutoGuide.com

Ooohh, very cool. NBS Kodiaks!

A new C3500 but also offered in 4x4 this time with the duramax would just be too awesome.

Sounds great. Hope they do.

This is great news :D. The MD dealer told me they would and I thought he was full of it. Looks like we may see some new styling :D

This is great news :D. The MD dealer told me they would and I thought he was full of it. Looks like we may see some new styling :D

its not gonna be anything new FYI.

its either gonna be the -560 bodies returning, or a -900 pickup truck-ish body.

there isnt the time, money or NEED for a totally new MD body.

I personally hope it becomes a 4500 or 5500 4x4 (-900 style) Cab & Chassis so I can get some payload from the smaller body style. The Kodiacs are just to big.

I personally hope it becomes a 4500 or 5500 (-900 style) Cab & Chassis so I can get some payload from the smaller body style. The Kodiacs are just to big.

X2....

I'm torn. Parts of me wants a 3500 sized one but another part if me wants a big one. I've driven a few 5500 4x4's and they are nice for what I do.

A nice 45 or 55 Kodiak would be nice. Especially with the new dmax comming onto the scene. I have rode in one kodiak crew cab before and it was dam nice even though it was pretty much base i think.

Cant wait to see if its a dream or will become a reality!

I hope they do. It was a mistake to get out of that market when they did. It would be nice to have a GM option when I look at a medium duty truck.
Stay safe out there.
Ken

I SURE HOPE THEY DO!!! sorry for all caps but GM has really let themselves go, its really upset me think about all of what they have been and what the are now.
GM used to be:
Chevrolet
GMC
Pontiac
Oldsmobile
Cadillac
Buick
Saturn
Saab
GM Medium Duty Division
GM Heavy Truck & Bus Division
Detroit Diesel
Allison Transmission
Isuzu
and that just mostly in the us of course their is the subsidiaries like Ac-Delco (of which they are selling or have sold off already) and other car subsidiaries like Opel and Holden and think about whats left of them? no much really and its very sad IMO that they stopped caring about quality and customers and just cared about bottom line and credentials. its just annoyed me

I think a GMT-900 based 4500 and 5500 would be great sellers and strong competition to the Super Duty 450 and 550 and Ram 4500 and 5500. Using the new IFS would be a significant advantage, both the Ford and Dodge ride rough and handle bad, even with a load. The Topkick/Kodiak 4500 and 5500 were decent trucks, but too big and bulky for their intended use. The 1991-2002 C-3500HD was a better truck for the market. GM could put the larger 6500/7500/8500 models of the GMT-560 back into production, that would give GM great coverage of the commercial truck market all the way up. Build the 560 in Mexico where low volume will not be as much of an issue, run the 900 4500 and 5500 out of Flint with the rest of the 900's.

a little off topic but today i saw an 80sish f-550 with a dually bed, much like the kodaic only ford and older than i realized existed. ive seen plenty of newer ones but not the old body style like that, also someone mentioned dodge having a m/d dont think ive ever seen one of those. and i also recently saw what i belive was a sterling pick-up 3500 or so, but it was clearly a rebadged dodge with a slightly different grille, anyone see them before?

I would imagine that it would be a vehicle partnership with an already established medium duty truck manufacture.

I personally hope it becomes a 4500 or 5500 4x4 (-900 style) Cab & Chassis so I can get some payload from the smaller body style. The Kodiacs are just to big.

The 2011 3500 Duallys are beasts....29,200 GCWR which, iirc, is 3,200lbs more than the current Kodiaks so they can out haul and out pull them, not to mention the EB and new massive brakes

Although the Topkick/Kodiak 4500 and 5500 were popular with the private/recreational use crowd, those trucks had an issue in commercial use. The unladen (empty) weight was pretty high for a truck in class 4-5, and you often ended up with quite a low payload for a truck that size after you mounted a body on it. You had to be careful ordering those to get the right options. You could spec. a 5500 to 26,000# GVW, (at which point you really had a 6500 with small wheels), but a 4500 with a 16,500# GVW didn't allow a lot of room for payload if you had a crew cab and heavy body. If GM does a Silverado/Sierra 4500 and 5500, they should be able to get the unladen weight down enough to be competitive with Ford and Dodge on payload. Watch International's new Terrastar have the same problem as the Topkick and Kodiak 4500 and 5500! The larger 6500/7500/8500 Topkick and Kodiak were fully competitive with any medium on the market. A lot of people seem to think GM will be back in medium duty sooner rather than later.

A lot of people seem to think GM will be back in medium duty sooner rather than later.


I think they (GM) realize what a valueable cash producer it was now that tit was gone, and if they partner with another company the investment (engineering costs) can be kept low, meaning there is minimal risk with the same profit.

I believe the Dodge ones, are branded Sterling. Look like a Dodge pickup, with a Sterling grille and such. One drives around in my area often, hard to snap a good picture driving down the road though.

I believe the Dodge ones, are branded Sterling. Look like a Dodge pickup, with a Sterling grille and such. One drives around in my area often, hard to snap a good picture driving down the road though.


I've seen those too.

I read on another site that Ford sold only sold some 9000 F450-550's last year, and that GM didn't see the need to build something to compete for that little quantity

I read on another site that Ford sold only sold some 9000 F450-550's last year, and that GM didn't see the need to build something to compete for that little quantity

That number was for F-450 pickups, and did not include F-450 and 550 chassis-cab commercial trucks. While it is likely GM will introduce Silvrado/Sierra 4500 chassis-cab commercial trucks at some point, a 4500 pickup is unlikely. But, I would not be surprised if a 4500 pickup was offered by an upfitter, like Monroe Equipment.

It would be great if they entered this market. I know lots a companies here in SoCal have them because everything is so compact here.

Just a hunch, but I would bet that GM wanted to outsource MD to a contracted chassis builder all along. The whole "exit" was part of a plan.

I always thought exiting was a odd strategy because these rigs are so nice. Chassis builders prefer them! I have driven one in a 34 foot motor home configuration and it handles amazingly well -- even up to the speed governor :cool: The Dmax got 9 MPG haulin arse out West at 70 MPH! That's Ford Superduty 3/4 ton MPG there! :D

Its picking up steam....:rocking:

Rumor is that there will be a Silverado/Sierra 4500 cab and chassis for 2012, and larger models are under discussion. Don't the new medium duty dealer franchises start this month?

I was in at the medium duty GM dealer in Denver CO yesterday and they basically said it's a given that GM will re-enter it but it's a matter of when. The MD sales man didn't act like he expected a pickup style 4500 but time will tell cause he said he had no solid info yet.

Rumor is that there will be a Silverado/Sierra 4500 cab and chassis for 2012, and larger models are under discussion. Don't the new medium duty dealer franchises start this month?

I wish they would look at the market share......In our area Ford F450's and 500's dominate the cab and chassis market...there are a few Dodge and Sterlings there too....

Hope they build one.........don't know if I could afford one but we'll see!

Finally uploaded the pic I took at the Cayuga drag strip. Sterling truck for yall to see :)