You’ve probably seen the headlines. Or maybe you went to the lot looking for a specific Chevy Colorado Trail Boss and found a whole lot of nothing. It’s frustrating. One minute, GM is bragging about how their mid-size trucks are the hottest thing on the market, and the next, the assembly lines go dead silent.
Honestly, the GM mid-size truck production suspension that hit the Wentzville Assembly plant recently felt like a gut punch to a segment that was finally finding its rhythm. We aren’t talking about a lack of interest here. People want these trucks. In the first half of 2025, Colorado sales were up a staggering 26%. The GMC Canyon? Up about 9%.
So, why stop?
The short answer is a "parts shortage," but that’s the corporate equivalent of saying "it’s complicated." When you dig into what actually happened between September 29 and October 19, 2025, you find a messy web of supply chain hiccups, mystery components, and a plant that simply couldn't keep the lights on without every single piece of the puzzle in place.
The Wentzville Shutdown: Not Your Average Coffee Break
Wentzville Assembly is a massive beast. It sits about 40 miles west of St. Louis, sprawling across 3.7 million square feet. This is the only place on the planet where the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon are born for the North American market. When this place stops, the pipeline for mid-size trucks across the entire continent basically dries up.
The suspension wasn't just a weekend thing. It lasted three weeks.
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During that time, roughly 3,800 workers were sent home. A letter co-signed by Plant Executive Director Eric Shelhorn and UAW Local 2250 Chairman Jon Daugherty confirmed the "temporary layoff." While some stamping and body shop work continued—mostly to keep the flow of repair parts moving—the main assembly line for the Colorado and Canyon was a ghost town.
Why the "Mystery Part" Matters
GM has been remarkably tight-lipped about exactly which part caused the wheels to fall off. In the past, we could usually point a finger at semiconductor chips. We’ve all been through that nightmare. But this time? It felt different.
Industry insiders, including folks over at Automotive News, have hinted that the culprit might be linked to the complex components required for the 2.7L TurboMax engine. Remember, for the 2025 and 2026 model years, GM basically went all-in on this engine. They killed off the lower-output versions. Now, every single truck coming off that line needs the high-output TurboMax hardware.
If a single specialized sensor or a specific turbocharger housing from a sub-supplier goes missing, the whole line freezes. You can’t exactly ship a truck without an engine, and you can't build the engine without the parts. It’s a domino effect that proves just how fragile the "just-in-time" manufacturing model still is in 2026.
The Ripple Effect on 2026 Models
This wasn't just about clearing out old stock. In fact, it was the opposite.
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GM entered late 2025 with about a 60-day supply of trucks on dealer lots. That sounds like a lot, but for a high-demand vehicle like the Colorado ZR2 or the Canyon AT4X, it’s basically nothing. Those units are usually sold before they even hit the pavement.
The GM mid-size truck production suspension effectively delayed the ramp-up for the 2026 model year. While the 2026 trucks don't feature a radical redesign—mostly sticking with the 310-horsepower TurboMax and that beefy 430 lb-ft of torque—every day the plant was idle was a day the competition gained ground.
Competition Doesn't Sleep
While Wentzville was quiet, Toyota was busy pumping out Tacomas. The Tacoma remains the undisputed king of the hill, moving over 130,000 units in the first half of 2025 alone. Ford also saw a massive rebound with the Ranger, especially with the Raptor variant finally getting into customers' hands.
GM's mid-size twins are widely considered to have the best interior tech and some of the most capable off-road suspension setups (thanks to those Multimatic DSSV dampers), but you can't win a fight if you aren't in the ring.
Sorting Fact From Fiction: Is the Suspension Over?
Yes. The plant officially resumed normal production on October 20, 2025.
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However, "normal" is a relative term.
You don't just flip a switch and have 1,000 trucks roll off the line the next morning. It takes weeks to get the logistics back in sync. There’s a backlog of orders that needs to be cleared, and priority is almost always given to the high-margin trims like the ZR2 Bison and the AT4X AEV Edition.
If you're looking for a base-trim WT (Work Truck) or an Elevation, you might still be waiting a bit longer than usual. The supply chain for the more "basic" components is often just as strained as the high-end stuff.
A Quick Reality Check
- Did GM stop making trucks because they weren't selling? No. Sales were actually record-breaking before the pause.
- Is the Chevy Express van affected? Yes. Since the Express and GMC Savana share the Wentzville facility, their production took a hit too.
- Will prices go up? Probably. While Kelley Blue Book noted that the 60-day supply helped stabilize things, any gap in production gives dealers an excuse to keep "market adjustments" on the window stickers.
What This Means for You Right Now
If you're in the market for a mid-size GM truck, you need to be strategic. The 2026 models are starting to trickle in, but the "hangover" from the production pause is real.
Basically, don't expect to walk onto a lot and find ten different colors of the exact trim you want. You’ve gotta be willing to travel or wait.
Actionable Steps for Truck Buyers
- Check the "In Transit" Status: Use the inventory search tools on the Chevy or GMC websites. Many of the trucks listed are actually still on a railcar or sitting in a lot in Missouri waiting for a final quality check.
- Verify the Build Date: If you're looking at a 2025 model, check the door jamb sticker. Trucks built right before or after the shutdown are fine, but "Lot Rot" can happen to units that sat unfinished waiting for parts.
- Don't Settle for the Wrong Engine: Some older 2024 or early 2025 stock might still have the lower-output 2.7L engines. Make sure you're getting the TurboMax (310 hp / 430 lb-ft) if that’s what you’re paying for.
- Watch the Full-Size Market: Interestingly, as mid-size supply tightened, GM started offering better incentives on the full-size Silverado 1500. Sometimes you can get a bigger truck for the same monthly payment because the supply chains for the full-size rigs (built in Fort Wayne and Silao) stayed more stable.
The GM mid-size truck production suspension was a classic case of a "high-class problem." Demand was through the roof, but the global supply chain just couldn't keep the pace. While the gates at Wentzville are open again, the impact on inventory will likely be felt through the first half of 2026. Keep an eye on those VINs and don't be afraid to cast a wide net in your search.