3.0L Duramax Diesel delayed.
Big news out from General Motors last week about the delay and cancellation of orders for the 3.0L Duramax Diesel for the 2019 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra. What does this mean? Patience. Lots of patience required.
According to a memo sent out to GM dealers, as reported on Automotive News, the delay is due to the EPA certification process and this means all 2019 orders for the engine are canceled. The memo reads:
The EPA’s emissions certification process for the engine is taking longer than anticipated, creating a “slight delay,” according to a memo GM sent to dealers Tuesday.
The full-size diesel pickups were expected to go on sale for the 2019 model year in early 2019, months after gasoline versions started arriving at dealerships last fall.
GM said 2020 diesel pickup production will begin “soon” but the delay means dealer orders for the models will be canceled and must be resubmitted.
Adding some more context, Chevrolet spokesman Monte Doran told Motor1.com more about the cause of the delay.
“Yes, we are shifting the 3.0L Diesel from a late 2019MY to a 2020MY as emissions testing is taking longer than expected,” Chevrolet representative Monte Doran told Motor1.com.
“However, we did not attribute to a single entity, as the truth is this is a collaborative effort between GM and several government entities. We will make the 2020MY Duramax available for dealers orders soon, and expect to deliver the first trucks to customers soon after emissions testing is complete.”
And finally there is a full statement from General Motors on the delay.
GM is currently working with government officials to complete emissions certification of this great new product. Unfortunately, the process is taking longer than anticipated. Therefore, rather than do an abbreviated production for the 2019 Model Year, GM will launch the 3.0L Duramax as a 2020 Model Year with production starting soon.
The decision to introduce the 3.0L Duramax as a 2020 Model Year will necessitate the return and cancellation of existing 2019 Model Year production. Dealers and customers impacted by this action will be offered a replacement 2020 Model Year vehicle. Notification and timing associated with the replacement order will be provided through a subsequent communication.
The 3.0L Duramax diesel was confirmed back earlier this year to produce 277 HP and 460 lb-ft of torque. Payload and towing capacity numbers haven’t been confirmed yet and neither has MPG due to the EPA delay.
Pricing is expected to be $2,495 more than the 5.3L V8 (same as the 6.2L V8 increase). It is expected to be offered in the Chevrolet LT, RST, LTZ and High Country trims as well as every trim level of the GMC Sierra.
This delay is likely more fall-out from the long Government shutdown in the spring of 2019.