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Deep discounts — $12K, $13K, $16K — are fueling a pickup price war

Heavy discounts of up to $16,000 per vehicle are fueling a "truck war" among full-size pickups sold in the United States by the Detroit Three, a Reuters analysis shows. Strong U.S. sales this year of the highly profitable big trucks have helped offset lagging passenger car sales. But it is not clear how much of the truck demand is linked directly to ample factory incentives and dealer discounts, or how far sales might decline without those subsidies. A Reuters survey of Ford, General Motors Co's Chevrolet and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles's Ram truck dealers across the United States indicates stores are offering deep discounts the country's bestselling full-size pickup trucks. "The walls are not crashing down on full-size trucks," said Sam Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasting at AutoForecast Solutions in Chester Springs, Pennsylvania. Detroit-based automakers want to keep cranking out their high-margin trucks, he added, and "giving up a little of the profit is the cheapest way to do it." Stores are offering discounts of up to $12,000 on the 2018 Ford F-150, which remains the best-selling vehicle in the country, recording more than 80,000 sales in May. Discounts run up to $13,000 on the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado and as high as $16,000 on the Ram 1500. Average transaction prices for full-size pick-ups range from around $42,000 to $45,000, industry analysts and automakers say. All three companies are spending furiously - GM and Fiat Chrysler to help sell off carryover 2018 trucks to prepare for redesigned 2019 models, and Ford to sustain its long-held sales crown. A supplier fire that temporarily shut down production of the F-150 last month "changed the game," said Jeff Schuster, senior vice president of forecasting at LMC Automotive in Troy, Michigan said. The supply halt nudged Ford's crosstown rivals "to ratchet up incentives on the current models to go after weakness at Ford," he said. Deals advertised on the companies' official websites range from rebates and low-interest loans to ultra-cheap lease rates, but they are not telling the whole story. Ford, for instance, advertises a $2,000 rebate and a $500 financing credit on sales of certain F-150 models. But James Collins Ford in Louisville, Kentucky, is offering discounts of up to $12,215 on the 2018 F-150 XLT SuperCrew 4x4. The price cuts are even steeper at a number of GM and Fiat Chrysler dealers. Quirk Chevrolet is selling the 2018 Silverado 1500 Double Cab at $13,000 off sticker.

GM does not have to turn over its ignition switch documents

In June the lawyer representing plaintiffs suing General Motors over faulty ignition switches accused GM and its firm King & Spalding of working together to cover up the malfunction. Bob Hilliard said that certain communication between GM and King & Spalding from 2010 to 2013, mainly focused on three Chevrolet Cobalt crashes, would reveal that they conspired in "burying what they knew" concerning the defect, and furthermore that the law firm broke rules of professional conduct once it found out about "ongoing fraudulent concealment" at GM. Hilliard filed a motion in a Manhattan court to force GM and King to hand over the memos, which were protected by attorney-client privilege. Hilliard said that the alleged ongoing fraud should trump attorney-client privilege, a GM spokesman said at the time that the issues in question had already been discussed previously, and that plantiffs already had much of the communication Hilliard's motion sought. US District Judge Jesse Furman ruled in favor of GM and King, refusing to order the release of the communication. In spite of finding probable cause that GM was engaging in a crime or fraud by not revealing the ignition switch defect, Furman did not find cause to believe that GM and King's discussions at the time were centered around continuing that potential crime or fraud. Saying also that plantiffs already had many of the disputed documents, attorney-client privilege should hold sway over the remainder. The class action case goes to trial in January 2016.

Chevy brings back Midnight Edition Colorado and Silverado for 2016

Chevrolet is capitalizing on the popularity of last year's shadowy Midnight Edition pickups with new versions at the Chicago Auto Show. The package's darker trim allows buyers to make their trucks look a little more menacing straight from the dealer. The 2016 Midnight Editions don't deviate from last year's monochromatic theme. The trucks feature blacked-out trim from the grille, badges, bumpers, and headlight bezels. The obsidian shades also appear on the side moldings and painted wheels. Chevy completes the dark theme with a black spray-in bedliner. Available with the Z71 package, customers can also get off-road equipment like an upgraded suspension, locking rear differential, and hill descent control – depending on the model. Chevy offered the Midnight Edition for the Silverado and Colorado last year, in addition to other models, and customers couldn't get enough of the dark trucks. "The Silverado 1500 Midnight was by far the most popular model in 2015, as demand outstripped supply in a matter of months. It only made sense to expand our special-edition offerings for 2016, including new Midnight editions," Sandor Piszar, Chevy's truck marketing director, said in the models' announcement. Chevy spokesperson Monte Doran told Autoblog the 2016 Midnight Edition pickups will be available this spring, but he wouldn't comment on pricing. You can get a good look at what to expect in the gallery above and expect live photos soon. Related Video: Chevrolet Trucks Back in Black for 2016 New Midnight Special Editions available on Silverado 1500 Z71, Colorado Z71 DETROIT – Chevrolet is expanding the popular Midnight Special Edition with new models available on 2016 Silverado 1500 Z71 and 2016 Colorado Z71. They join a growing portfolio of special-edition trucks whose popularity helped Chevrolet truck sales increase 27 percent last year – double the increase for the total truck market. "We introduced several special-edition trucks in 2015 – each combining equipment and appearance packages designed for specific enthusiasts in mind," said Sandor Piszar, Chevrolet truck marketing director. "They clearly resonated with buyers, as the special editions sold in one-third the time, and to younger, more affluent buyers than the industry average. "The Silverado 1500 Midnight was by far the most popular model in 2015," Piszar continued, "as demand outstripped supply in a matter of months.