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7 hours ago

by Jay Traugott Trucks / Comments

Same goes for the new GMC Sierra.

Two of General Motors' most profitable models are facing yet another delay. The refreshed 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and its slightly more premium corporate cousin, the GMC Sierra 1500, will reportedly not debut as planned. They were supposedly set to arrive for the 2021 model year but unspecified delays pushed the date back.

According to GM Authority, the semiconductor chip shortage crisis is forcing GM to delay those launches yet again. The outlet doesn't cite a specific source acknowledging the latest delay, but it does make sense given the current situation the entire auto industry is finding itself in because of a lack of chips. Silverado and Sierra production has already been suspended at least once and lasted for several days at the Flint Assembly plant in Michigan and Indiana's Fort Wayne Assembly plant.

Although it appears both trucks are being built once again, the production rate has slowed down and several features that require those chips, such as the fuel management system, are not currently being offered. Factories typically close for a couple of weeks every summer for retooling to prepare for redesigned or refreshed models, but this may not be happening in the case of GM's full-size trucks. So, where does this leave things? There are a few possibilities.

The first is the most obvious and, perhaps, the easiest: continue production of the 2021 models for a longer period of time and simply delay the updated trucks' launch once again. Another option could be to actually split the 2022 model year in half, with the refreshed vehicles arriving next spring.

This would cut the 2022 model year short, but given the circumstances, there'd be no choice. The fact that GM can't launch the facelifted Silverado and Sierra is not the worst thing in the world. Both are still selling well very well, though the Ram 1500 has taken the No. 2 sales spot, pushing the GM trucks to No. 3. The Ford F-150 remains top dog.

Some of GM's planned updates include a redesigned and more upscale interior, new technology like Super Cruise, and the possible elimination of two engines: the naturally aspirated 4.3-liter V6 LV3 and the 5.3-liter V8 L82. An official update regarding the status of the 2022 Silverado and Sierra should arrive soon.