DETROIT -- General Motors' unveiling of the new Chevrolet Silverado pickup over the weekend was just the start.
Despite chatter about robo-taxis and shared mobility, the 2018 Detroit auto show likely will be dominated by that most traditional and profitable of vehicles: the full-size pickup truck.
More: Ford door latch recall: Automaker to repair 1.3 million F-150, Super Duty pickup trucks In a 2016 presentation to investors, Itay Michaeli, auto analyst with Citigroup, said each GM pickup truck generates a profit of about $11,000.
New Kelley Blue Book data shows Americans are choosing new trucks over new sedans.
Chevrolet made it clear it's going to depend on steel for the new Silverado, not aluminum like archrival Ford and its F-150, the nation's best-selling vehicle.
Regarding the new Ram pickup, spy photographers have captured images showing what appears to be a split, dual-function tailgate on some versions and a key fob that can remotely drop the tailgate, according to Automotive News.
Mike Manley, who heads the Ram brand for Fiat Chrysler, divulged little about the new Ram during an interview with the Free Press last month at the Los Angeles Auto Show, but he did offer his thoughts on what Ram needs to do in a market dominated by the Ford F-150.
Ram, which produces mostly trucks, is a key part of Fiat Chrysler's fortunes as the company's second-largest brand by volume after Jeep.
Earlier this year, the Italian-American automaker announced a 2018 Ram Limited Tungsten Edition, which it called its most luxurious Ram pickup ever.
About the same time Ford went all-aluminum, GM countered with its mid-size Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon, which stimulated the truck market even more, bringing in younger consumers who are a little more price conscious, but still want the utility.
Source: usatoday