New Midsize Truck

[lightbrotha2004]

I found a link for the article http://www.whiotv.com/news/8647907/detail.html

According to News Center 7 in Dayton, OH GM has struck a tentative contract with GM Moriane Assembly workers to build a yet unidentified Midsize Sport Utility Vehicle...not a cross over.... Could this be the new 360/370?

[TahoeMikeZ71]

When are they planning to build it?

[lightbrotha2004]

The news said in the 2007-2008 timeframe

[Perian]

Here's a little more from the Associated Press:

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) -- General Motors Corp. and workers at its assembly plant in suburban Moraine have reached a tentative contract agreement that would put the facility in position to build a new generation of sport utility vehicles, a GM official said Wednesday.

GM declined to comment on the details of the contract. The International Union of Electronic Workers Local 798, which represents the plant's workers, didn't return a call for comment but its Web site confirmed an agreement had been reached. The site offered no details on the contract.

The plant's future was put into question in February when GM said the workers would have to become more competitive in producing vehicles. There were no vehicles slated to be produced at the plant after 2008.

If workers approve the agreement and GM's board of directors approves a proposal to produce a new generation of mid-sized SUVs, those vehicles would be built at the Moraine plant, GM spokesman Dan Flores said. Flores said the board is expected to make a decision by the end of the year.

About 4,150 workers are employed at the plant, which makes the Buick Rainier, GMC Envoy, Chevrolet Trailblazer, Saab 9-7X and Isuzu Ascender. GM still plans to eliminate the third production shift in mid-July because of slumping market demand, a move that will cut 1,150 jobs.

[paul8488]

an, things are getting a little muddled in the GM SUV camp! I mean the Outlook, Enclave and Acadia may be FWD-biased and more car-based than traditional SUVs, but they appear to be quite large and will crowd out the dated TD et al. I wonder how much room exists between, say, the Acadia and Yukon in GMCs lineup for another truck-based SUV. I'd like to think they'll have one, but wonder if the future bodes well for more investment in big SUVs, when they already have the excellent Yukon and Tahoe and upcoming crossovers. It will be interesting to see!

[nadepalma]

Originally Posted by lightbrotha2004

.... Could this be the new 360/370?

Let's hope so. Or at the very least, if not fully redesigned GMT product, then a very good rehash of the current vehicle. I know that platforms get outdated very quickly in the Auto business, but even having them updated would be a boon in light of the competition from Ford and others.

Honestly, I don't know how the GMT360 platform fares in competition from other brands, but knowing that GM took a half-baked platform and pulled together a 9-7X that is more than competitive for it's price, really shows you what GM can do when they set out to do it right. I know that the 9-7X has it flaws, but it is vastly superior in ride, handling, interior, and comforts than the other GMT360 products.

More than anything though, the platform being redone would be a boon if for any other reason that it would signal the end of the other hanger-on SUV models. We already know that the Ascender is going to be history in part for GM's decision to sell it's stake in Isuzu, the Rainier is getting replaced with the Enclave and that leaves only the TrailBlazer, Envoy and the Saab.

[redfox]

i have a trailblazer they are selling quite a lot of them can't see gm letting them die.

[kenman923]

Is it going to be below the Trailblazer?

[jae1987]

Well since the Enclave, Acadia, and Outlook, are for Buick, GMC, and Saturn, I am wondering if these will be the minivan replacements. While the new TB will keep with the truck and since Chevy and and Pontiac have the Torrent and Equinox it would make sense that chevy will get a new SUV. And for GMC they can use more products I love them.

[DemonKnightDK]

when they say midsize is that like S-10 Blazer mid size or dakota mid size?

[drew770]

This is just another example of GM missing the boat!
Put truck based SUVs on the backburner for now! Stop wasting development money and time on these things.
Focus on passenger cars, minivans, and crossovers. And if you have to worry about trucks work on those sad Colorado twins!

I understand that SUVs and Trucks are the profit makers but with gas prices going up again the focus should be on real competitive fuel efficient cars!

[Hudson]

Moraine will continue to build the Trailblazer and Envoy. In 2008, the "GMT360NG" will begin production in Ohio. Nothing too surprising there.

[King Riffle]

Originally Posted by drew770

This is just another example of GM missing the boat!
Put truck based SUVs on the backburner for now! Stop wasting development money and time on these things.
Focus on passenger cars, minivans, and crossovers. And if you have to worry about trucks work on those sad Colorado twins!

I understand that SUVs and Trucks are the profit makers but with gas prices going up again the focus should be on real competitive fuel efficient cars!

Exactly. You read my mind.

[69Firebird400]

Originally Posted by drew770

This is just another example of GM missing the boat!
Put truck based SUVs on the backburner for now! Stop wasting development money and time on these things.
Focus on passenger cars, minivans, and crossovers. And if you have to worry about trucks work on those sad Colorado twins!

I understand that SUVs and Trucks are the profit makers but with gas prices going up again the focus should be on real competitive fuel efficient cars!

They already have significantly scaled back their development of the next-generation body on frame midsize SUVs. I'm guessing that they originally planned to develop a new platform, etc., but with their reduction in development spending, will probably do an update of the current platform with a new body and upgraded interior, with a more competitive powertrain (ahem - six speed automatics). It appears that the agreement with the UAW local in Moraine is contingent upon actually getting approval to continue/succeed the current GMT-360s for MY 2008+. I don't think that is necessarily a sure thing, given the way finances are in flux right now. If they sold the Isuzu stake just to get a few hundred million, it's not hard to imagine them delaying or eliminating the TB replacement, which probably costs much more than that to do right. Plus, they probably want to see how the Lambda crossovers do in the market before deciding on whether to invest a lot of resources into traditional midsize SUVs.

[Hudson]

Originally Posted by 69Firebird400

...It appears that the agreement with the UAW local in Moraine is contingent upon actually getting approval to continue/succeed the current GMT-360s for MY 2008+....

The UAW doesn't represent Moraine. The IBEW does.