CAFE Strikes Again As GM Kills Off 1500 Series Vans

Derek Kreindler
by Derek Kreindler

GM is killing off their 1500-series Savanna and Express vans, due to slow sales and regulatory concerns.

Pickuptrucks.com is reporting the move comes at a time when the 1500 GM vans were the last full-size vans to sneak in under the 8,500 lb gross vehicle weight rating (GWVR), a key cutoff point for regulatory matters, specifically CAFE. Anything above that threshold is not counted, and the elimination of the 1500 vans will almost certainly help GM improve its CAFE rating.

With just 23 percent of Express buyers and 7 percent of Savanna buyers opting for the 1500, GM apparently expects the 2500 vans and the new City Express to pick up the slack.

Derek Kreindler
Derek Kreindler

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  • Hybridkiller Hybridkiller on Jun 17, 2014

    "GM is killing off their 1500-series Savanna and Express vans, due to slow sales and regulatory concerns." Regulatory concerns? Did this come from an official GM source, or is this just speculation driven by the famous TTAC anti-Fed-reg bias? This is not a rhetorical question, I'm asking seriously here.

  • DenverMike DenverMike on Jun 17, 2014

    Btw, that's a 3/4 or 1 ton in the picture. 8 lugs.

  • Newsie23 Newsie23 on Jun 17, 2014

    I used to own a '03 AWD Express 1500 Passenger Van - so that I could carry a Snowmobile 'inside' and safely, park overnight, in a mega city. Because I don't really like Trucks, the transmission lines rotted out at 68 km from the lack of use. Of course, I had to have the transmission rebuilt! My ideal truck/van/mini-van would have 1 or 2 rows, of removable, bucket seats. If they were left in, I would like to be able to carry plywood/dry wall, etc., - down the center. The rubber/rug, floor mat would be 'flappable' - to be used in a trades van or passenger van configuration.

  • CamryStang CamryStang on Jul 13, 2014

    Never mind that GM is rolling a new light-duty cargo van which would compete with the 1500 vans for buyers. GM buyers who don't need the payload of the big vans will buy the new one, and those do will get the heavier duty 2500 and 3500 series. Never mind poor sales too. Never mind that in truck land, the light-duty versions get replaced first. Never mind all that, we've got to knee-jerk blame regulation! Cmon guys, you can do better than that.

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