General Motors has apparent plans to keep the current-generation 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 in production while simultaneously building and selling the all-new, 2019 versions. GM has tapped its Oshawa plant in Canada to continue production while its other plants in the U.S. and Mexico will build the new model.

“This strategy will help us meet customer demand as we transition our production and introduce our exciting new models into the market starting later in 2018,” said Jennifer Wright, a GM Canada spokeswoman to Automotive News Canada. “The length of the program in Oshawa will be dependent on market demand.”

For anyone who has followed the auto industry, this news isn’t surprising, especially for GM. Most recently, GM built both the previous and new generation of Equinox crossover and Jeep plans to do the same with the outgoing Wrangler JK while the new 2018 Wrangler JL’s production is ramping up. Automotive News reports that even the current Ram 1500 will continue production alongside the next-generation Ram 1500 when it begins assembly in early 2018.

As for the Oshawa’s future, Canada’s Unifor union president Jerry Dias, told AN, “They are being very careful about what they are announcing right now. But they have invested a fortune in Oshawa. Right now the commitment is to the existing portfolio. More decisions will be made.”

Continue reading for more information.

Why It Matters

Automakers cannot afford to create a gap in their sales flow. Simply ending production of an outgoing model, allowing for weeks of renovation and retooling, and then spending several more weeks ramping up production just isn’t feasible. By continuing to produce current models, it gives automakers the chance to perfect the new model’s assembly while giving customers a shot at deeply discounted “classic” models.

That “classic” name actually has a history at GM. The automaker has used it on several occasions to denote previous-generation models that share the same model year as the new generation vehicle. Notable nameplates with the Classic treatment include the Malibu, Caprice, and of course, the Silverado. The last Silverado Classic happened in 2007 as GM transitioned from 1999-2006 GMT800 pickup to the 2007-2013 GMT900 pickup.

References

Chevrolet Silverado

Read more about the new 2019 Chevrolet Silverado.

2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Z71: An Overview

Read our full review on the 2017 Chevrolet Silverado.

Read more Detroit Auto Show news.