Why did the DND 'buy American'?

Likabrik · July 9, 2004

Canada's Dept. of National Defence contracted with General Motors to supply 1,061 Silverado crew cab trucks for its army reserve units. Contract price was $225.8 million (Canadian) which includes sourcing the trucks from GM's plant in Flint, Michigan and having them imported and serviced by selected GM of Canada dealerships, including Westgate Chevrolet in Edmonton, Alberta.

Is this a good deal for Canada?

Does the Flint plant make Silverados at lower cost than the GM of Canada plant in Oshawa, Ont. which also makes Silverado crew cab and extended cab trucks?

How were Westgate Chevrolet and other Canadian dealerships selected?

Were all GM of Canada dealerships given a chance to bid for handling and servicing the trucks?

Do Ford, Toyota, Mazda and other truck manufacturers make trucks comparable to Silverado crew cabs?

It's not apparent that the entire deal or the servicing contracts involving selected GM of Canada dealerships were tendered by the DND...

robsawatsky · July 9, 2004

I believe the Oshawa plant only makes the light duty (1500) pickups in extended cab, and the 1500 crew cab, which I don't believe these trucks are.

I also suspect that there is already a militarization line set up in the US, since I've seen photos of similar US vehicles at the final prep site.

redvett · July 10, 2004

1st of all the Flint plant was certified back in 1986 by the Federal goverment to build and did build thousands of Blazers & HD 4x4 trucks. 2nd Ford & probably Dodge were most surely able to bid on the trucks. 3rd Why would you want a Toyota, Mazda who dont build a HD truck & arent made in America your just helping the import countrys economy not the North American continent.

GMMediumDutyMQ · July 11, 2004

I also suspect that there is already a militarization line set up in the US, since I've seen photos of similar US vehicles at the final prep site.

I posted pictures of the prep site a while ago. I'll post more again if you want, I live right by the company who does the military conversion in Auburn Hills, MI. Funny, it's right across from DCX tech center....

Ironically, this has been happening for about 3 years now, as I've pictures of the military CUCV's from before the restyle a few years back. Ironic it's just getting posted now.

But those trucks have always been sold as GM of Canada trucks. The stickers are all for GM of Canada.....but you're right, I don't know why perhaps they're built in Flint. I guess there are two reasons:

1. GM needs to keep extra shifts open at the Flint plant. I know the medium duties built there are selling slow, as every time I drive to college in Flint, the lot's filled with 560s, and as such, perhaps they need to build more of a different thing to keep from laying people off.

2. This is the most probabable. The conversions are done in Auburn Hills, MI. Now let's compare shipping distances:

Flint - Auburn Hills - Canada

OR

Oshawa - Auburn Hills - Canada

To me, it seems that the first is a more logical choice. Flint's only about 45 minutes north of Auburn Hills via 1-75. And from there, it's only 1-75 through Detroit to catch the Ambassador Bridge over to Canada, voila: delivery. I'm not exactly sure where Oshawa is in terms of relativity to Windsor, but I'm guessing it's a hell of a lot longer drive from Oshawa to Auburn Hills. GM's looking for the simplest route for shipping....not to mention the cheapest.

robsawatsky is right, as well. These aren't the 1500s, these are all K2500 HD crew cabs, with automatics, pushbutton transfer cases, and Duramax Diesels. Again, I'll post more pictures soon.

MQ

redvett · July 11, 2004

Actually the Flint plant just hired 400 more people because the med duty is selling so well and also the Flint plant only builds 2500 series and up to med. duty. Oshawa does not build a heavy duty.

lrymal · July 11, 2004

...these are all K2500 HD crew cabs, with automatics, pushbutton transfer cases, ....

Hmmmm, pushbutton transfer case..

Well, there goes my confidence in the U.S. military vehicles. I can just see it now..., in the heat of battle, crossing over the enemy berms.... "SERVICE 4WD NOW".

Yeah, that'll do it for the good old confidence factor as ordinance is flying all over the place at you.