GMSV rolls into action, starting with a familiar big pick-up
/The Chevrolet Silverado has a new custodian – will it also get a new price?
THE big American pickup that saw out Holden Special Vehicles has returned to this market in identical form but with a new distributor, this time directly aligned with General Motors.
Confirmation that the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 - which landed in limited count from April - will lead the push by General Motors Specialty Vehicles, with the Silverado 2500 and Corvette C8 sports car to follow next year, has been expected.
The new operation says it cannot yet release the 1500’s price yet. Does this raise speculation that the model under GMSV might not cost as much as it did under HSV, which laid down a base sticker of $123,990?
That’s yet to be clarified by the new operation – which has effectively picked up the HSV dealers network in NZ.
The changeover was long expected but could not be officially announced, let alone swung into action, until HSV ceased to be. That happened at the end of October.
The Silverado we get now is as before, including how it is made. The vehicle is remanufactured to right-hand-drive by Walkinshaw Automotive Group in Australia, at the same plant that does the same job on RAM trucks.
The New Zealand operation involves Kiwis who were well known at Holden New Zealand. The general manager is Matthew Taylor, who joined Holden NZ in 2017 and was product marketing manager then national sales manager. Prior to that, he was with Bayford Group and had positions with BMW and Volkswagen in Australia.
GMSV’s NZ communications are in the hands of Ed Finn, who held the corporate communications role at Holden NZ.
Also, Marc Ebolo, the last boss of Holden NZ, is now the new managing director of General Motors in Australia and New Zealand. That position sees the Melbourne native leading Holden Aftersales operations in both countries, as well GMSV regionally.
GMSV see good potential for the Silverado, stating believe that North American full-size trucks are redefining the ute market here and in Australia.
The 2021 Chevrolet Silverado comes with a 6.2 litre EcoTec3 V8 petrol engine married to a 10-speed auto transmission. The drivetrain has auto stop/start technology and a fuel management system.
Towing capacity is 4.5 tonnes. It has a tow/haul mode, trailer sway control, hill start assist and auto grade and cruise grade braking.
Said Taylor: “Kiwis are renowned adventurers and love getting off the beaten track into the great outdoors, and the new Silverado 1500 will be the perfect vehicle to help enhance this experience.
“In addition to its all-wheel drive go-anywhere capability, it's also the ideal vehicle for people who want the ability to tow 4.5-tonnes as well as enjoy a wide range of creature-comforts.”
