GM, Navistar class 4/5 truck will get Duramax engine, Allison trans

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Updated Mar 15, 2017
An employee at the DMAX, LTD engine plant assembles Duramax diesel engines in Moraine, Ohio.An employee at the DMAX, LTD engine plant assembles Duramax diesel engines in Moraine, Ohio.

When General Motors’ all-new Class 4/5 commercial truck – the product of a joint development with Navistar – debuts next year, it will be powered by a Duramax engine and matched with an Allison transmission, the Detroit automaker announced Tuesday at the Work Truck Show in Indianapolis.

The Duramax/Allison combo has powered close to two million trucks since 2001 and John Schwegman, GM’s Director of Commercial Product and Medium Duty Fleet, says the new Chevrolet medium-duty truck will be the company’s flagship fleet and commercial customers vehicle.

“… we believe the strength of Duramax/Allison powertrain combination will be able to tackle various jobs – from general contracting to urban delivery to bucket loaders and wreckers.”

Navistar’s General Manager, Medium Duty Truck Platform Chad Conley says Navistar engineered the truck’s “parts and components,” along with the truck’s chassis.

Technical specifications for Chevrolet’s new medium-duty truck, including cab and frame dimensions, horsepower and torque, GAWR, GVWR, payload and other ratings, will be released close to launch.

Closer to the 2019 model year, Conley says International plans to unveil a companion truck to the GM Class 4/5 offering using the same chassis, powertrain and engineering.

Jason Cannon has written about trucking and transportation for more than a decade and serves as Chief Editor of Commercial Carrier Journal. A Class A CDL holder, Jason is a graduate of the Porsche Sport Driving School, an honorary Duckmaster at The Peabody in Memphis, Tennessee, and a purple belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu. Reach him at [email protected].Â