GMSV reaffirms Silverado focus as full-size truck deliveries rise

Silverado remains the short-term focus

General Motors Specialty Vehicles (GMSV) says full-size trucks remain its short-term focus in Australia, with the Chevrolet Silverado at the centre of that priority. A GM spokesperson told GoAuto the company sees further opportunity for full-size pick-ups in Australia and New Zealand, particularly the off-road-focused Silverado 1500 ZR2. That is the company’s expectation, not a quantified forecast: the spokesperson said GMSV does not publish variant-level volume targets or forward sales forecasts. ¹

The spokesperson also said GM ANZ would continue evaluating opportunities elsewhere in General Motors’ portfolio over the longer term where it sees a fit for Australian and New Zealand customers. GMSV currently sells the Chevrolet Corvette and GMC Yukon Denali alongside the Silverado in Australia, GoAuto reports. Its stated truck priority therefore concerns the near term, rather than an exclusive commitment to pick-ups. ¹

Deliveries rise after a weaker 2025

GoAuto reports 6440 Australian full-size truck deliveries across all marques to the end of August 2026, up 11.7 per cent year to date. That follows a reported 17.4 per cent decline for the segment over the full 2025 calendar year. The eight-month increase describes sales so far in 2026; it does not establish how the year will finish. ¹

Within the August year-to-date total, the Silverado 1500 and 2500 HD recorded a combined 2269 deliveries, or 35.2 per cent of the segment, according to GoAuto. The Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 recorded 2077 combined deliveries, or 32.2 per cent. Ford recorded 1348 F-150 deliveries and Toyota 746 Tundra deliveries. These are model-family totals, not sales of individual variants. ¹

For the full 2025 calendar year, GoAuto reports 8763 segment deliveries: 3863 Silverados, 3271 Rams, 837 Tundras and 792 F-150s. GMSV said VFACTS figures gave the Silverado 1500 LD and 2500 HD a combined 44.1 per cent share that year, up 7.7 percentage points from 36.4 per cent in 2024. GMSV also said the 2500 HD took more than 74 per cent of Australia’s 2500 market in 2025. Those full-year figures cover a different period from the August 2026 year-to-date results. ¹²

Current models, equipment and prices

GMSV identifies three Australian Silverado variants: the 1500 LTZ Premium, 1500 ZR2 and larger 2500 HD LTZ Premium. CarExpert reports that the Silverado 1500 uses a naturally aspirated 6.2-litre petrol V8 producing 313kW and 624Nm, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive. 4X4 Australia lists a 6.6-litre Duramax turbo-diesel V8 producing 350kW and 1322Nm for the 2500 HD; those diesel outputs do not apply to the 1500. ²³⁵

CarExpert reported in July that the intermediate 2026i Silverado 1500 update raised gross vehicle mass from 3300kg to 3505kg. Payload increased from 748kg to 942kg for the LTZ Premium and from 713kg to 922kg for the ZR2. CarExpert also reported revised suspension for the LTZ Premium, while the ZR2 retained its Multimatic DSSV dampers. Both variants gained black Chevrolet lettering on the tailgate. ⁵

In July, CarExpert listed the updated 1500 LTZ Premium at $135,990 and the ZR2 at $147,490, each $1000 more than before and both excluding on-road costs. Its September review listed the same before-on-road-cost prices for the 2027-labelled variants. Separately, GMSV says every new Silverado has been backed since 1 October 2025 by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre manufacturer warranty and five years of 24/7 Ultra Roadside Assistance. ⁵⁶²

Classification and proposed emissions change

CarExpert reports that the Silverado 1500’s revised 3505kg gross vehicle mass moves it from the NA light-goods category to the NB1 medium-goods category, above the current 3500kg threshold for the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES). CarExpert says the change also means the updated truck is not required to meet Australian Design Rule 98/01, which sets advanced emergency braking requirements for passenger vehicles and light goods vehicles; the Silverado 1500 nevertheless has autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection. GoAuto reports that the federal government has proposed extending NVES coverage to qualifying vehicles in this higher gross-vehicle-mass range from 1 July 2027. That extension remains a proposal, not a rule already in force. ⁵⁴

ZR2 driving findings

In a September review of the Australian-market, 2027-labelled Silverado ZR2, CarExpert found it capable during a GMSV-organised sand-driving event in Tasmania. The publication also found its size and steering made tighter routes more demanding and described its on-road ride as busier than the LTZ Premium’s. Those impressions came from the drive event, not a towing test. CarExpert lists the ZR2’s braked towing capacity as 3500kg with a 50mm tow ball or 4200kg with a 70mm tow ball. ⁶