Insect Life Hampers Roll-out of GM's Newest SUVs

Longer, more spacious, and sporting a newly independent rear suspension, General Motors’ 2021 full-size SUV clan is ready to tap pent-up consumer enthusiasm… just as soon as the manufacturer scrubs off the paint-marring insect secretions.

It seems the General’s big SUVs have run into a seasonal issue near their Texas home base.

As reported by Automotive News, thousands of factory-fresh Chevrolet Tahoes and GMC Yukons have turned up at dealerships with blotchy residue fouling their pristine paint after mayflies swarmed them near GM’s Arlington assembly plant. Commonly seen massing over gas stations on summer nights, mayflies were likewise attracted to this crop of hulking vehicles.

The insects’ interest in Arlington’s latest had nothing to do with the models’ optional 3.0-liter inline-six diesel and everything to do with location. It seems that, following assembly, new Tahoes and Yukons were parked near a lake awaiting shipment to dealers. Apparently, quite a few mayflies called this lake home.

After some dealers spent hours removing the gunk off of solitary SUVs, GM was forced to issue a dealer bulletin detailing the best way to remove the insect residue. The issue also forced some 2,600 vehicles to be held back as the automaker took care of the problem at its source, stemming the flow of profitable new models that are only now just reaching buyers.

Sales Associate George Eischen of Pete Eischen Chevrolet in Fairview, Okla., told the outlet that one SUV had to have its hood repainted after residue removal failed. The vehicle’s brightwork was similarly marred, leading to dissatisfaction with the manufacturer.

In a message to AN, a company spokesperson said all models heading to dealers will arrive sans mayfly secretions. “Plant personnel are rapidly cleaning vehicles so that they arrive to our dealers and customers in flawless condition,” the spokesperson said.

[Images: General Motors]