GM Moving Toward Carbon Fiber Pickup Beds
General Motors is considering carbon fiber for the beds of its next-generation Chevrolet and GMC pickup trucks to better compete with Ford's F-Series pickups and meet future fuel-economy standards.

Photo of 2018 Chevrolet Silverado courtesy of GM.

Photo of 2018 Chevrolet Silverado courtesy of GM.
According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, General Motors is considering carbon fiber for the beds of its next-generation Chevrolet and GMC pickup trucks to better compete with Ford's F-Series pickups and meet future fuel-economy standards.
The beds would be added to premium versions of the trucks, according to the WSJ, which quoted two unnamed sources familiar with the matter. General Motors has declined to comment on the report.
The change should be implemented in the next two years and would increase the cost of the pickups.
General Motors has been expanding its truck portfolio in recent years to better compete with Ford's F-Series trucks. In 2016, GM began offering six Class 3-5 cabovers under a partnership with Isuzu Commercial Truck of America. GM will offer a Class 6 cabover in 2018.
In late September, Chevrolet announced it will offer Class 4 and 5 Silverado medium-duty trucks as chassis cab models.
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