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.
More Operations
What Fleet Managers Really Want From Vendors
From customer service frustrations and technology breakdowns to RFQs, change management, and the growing impact of turnover across the industry, this conversation pulls back the curtain on the real operational challenges fleet managers are navigating every day.
Read More →Fleet Safety Masterclass: Industry Leaders on Storytelling, Strategy & Innovation
In this special masterclass episode, industry leaders break down what it really takes to build safer fleets in today’s increasingly distracted and data-driven world.
Read More →Integrating Legacy Fleet Systems and Historical Data
In this episode, we bring together fleet and technology leaders to unpack the realities of data integration, system migrations, and the evolving role of AI in fleet management.
Read More →From Resistance to Results: Change Management Strategies for Fleets
From new technologies and safety programs to evolving regulations, fleets are under constant pressure to adapt. But as Dr. Betz explains, success isn’t about the system you implement—it’s about whether your people actually use it.
Read More →Where We're Headed: A Practical Look at AI in Fleet
Discover how AI is actually being deployed in fleets, not just marketed, including practical use cases and emerging risks.
Read More →
How Coca-Cola United Protects Its Fleet from Growing Legal Risk
Growing legal exposure can put fleets at risk. Here's one company's approach.
Read More →
Fleet Managers Think They Understand Their Costs. The Data Says Otherwise.
Most fleet managers say they have a strong handle on their costs, but new research from Bobit Business Media tells a different story. A 2026 survey of 190 fleet professionals reveals a widespread "confidence gap" where fragmented systems, disconnected data, and delayed reporting are leaving major blind spots hidden beneath the surface. Find out what the data actually shows.
Read More →
Cameras, Safety and Insurance: From Reactive Claims to Real-Time Prevention (Part 2 of 2)
Part Two: Commercial auto remains one of the most challenging and costly lines of coverage for fleet operators and insurers alike. Continue learning more about how to effectively address these issues from Onur Aksan, Enterprise Business Development Executive, Geotab
Read More →
New Trucks, AI & Summer Downtime | AF News Recap
From new truck updates to AI-powered driver coaching and summer maintenance tips, this week's fleet headlines are all about keeping things moving.
Read More →
Beyond Utilization Rates: Smarter Fleet Replacement Decisions
Vehicle replacement decisions affect every aspect of fleet performance, from operating costs to asset availability. This guide explores how fleet leaders use integrated data, benchmarking, and lifecycle analytics to determine the right fleet size and optimize replacement timing with greater confidence.
Read More →

