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GM rep on the Avalanche demise

mxrider

Full Member
Joined
Jun 25, 2009
Messages
16
Had the chance to speak with a lady who "repped" the Avalanache 6+ months out of the year from 2002-2013.  She was GM's #1 speaker at state fairs, auto shows, etc. and the Avalanche was her specialty.  When I told her that I think the Avalanche was the best "truck" produced by GM she agreed...so much so she said "GM couldn't make any $ on it...it cost too much to build and was an exceptional vehicle" she said.  GM really needed to charge about $10k more per Avy to make it worth their while but they knew people wouldn't pay it...they'd just go buy a Silverado or Suburban, but not spend that much more $$ on the Avy.  It was an interesting conversation!
 
She ???

Just how old was she.
 
That doesn't make sense... GM's ENTIRE US based profits come from their SUVs & trucks. Which tells me the markup is massive on these vehicles. There's no way the Avalanche wasn't making them money. Possibly less than say the Tahoe or Suburban, sure, but not enough to say it was "costing them". Face it, someone pulled the plug most likely because sales were down across the board (full size SUVs were down 50% at the time it was canceled) and GM had to cut any corners they could. Heck, maybe someone in the higher-ups just personally hates the Avy and struck down the revamp.
 
I think a major factor in the demise was that remember the  Gov forced automakers to meet MPG guide lines, there fleets had to meet or exceed the government mpg requirements and stay within EPA guide lines as well, so of all the different vehicles they make they had to meet that number! You can add a car with great mileage to the bottom of the list, take off a truck (AV) to manipulate those numbers, at least this was my understanding at the time.

Didit
 
That's a good point Didit. Dropping a low mpg vehicle from the lineup would have definitely given GM an instant, albeit tiny, uptick in average fleet economy. With the requirement rollbacks and today's economy advancements, it would be amazing if GM reintroduced the Avy in the next refresh but they probably don't think a big enough market exists.  :cry:  :cry:
 
I guess a Hybrid option wouldn't help the numbers?  Or the smaller Duramax?  Now that would be worth seeing!!
 
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