GM Able to Snag Over $200m in Military Contract for Beefed up Colorado ZR2

We’re certainly no technical experts on boardroom conversations from the major automakers. However, we would probably guess that government contracts are probably pretty valuable to most brands. Just recently, Chevrolet was able to reach a deal with the United States Army that will land them $214 million.

According to Autoblog, “The initial term pays $214.3 million for a first procurement of 649 vehicles, but the Army’s already been approved to acquire 2,065 of the trucks over the next decade. Delivery of the first 649 will apparently be spread over the next five years, 1,070 over the next eight years.”

What’s the Military Getting

Late last year, images of the Infantry Squad Vehicle or “ISV” would circulate and really got us curious. The vehicle had been designed in order to carry troops around in an effective manner. The ISV is said to weigh less than 5,000lbs with the ability to carry nine soldiers and gear at highway speeds in adverse terrain and conditions. All of this and it also has to be small enough to be stored in a helicopter.

What Chevrolet would come up with would basically be a variation of their Chevrolet Colorado ZR2. The truck powered by a 2.8-liter diesel four-cylinder and 6-speed automatic is essentially a roll cage on wheels. Underneath, we find plating that protects the truck’s essential components for operation.

Perhaps one of the coolest parts is that there isn’t all that much about the truck that’s different from the consumer product. It’s said to contain 90% parts that can be pulled from the shelf. That means that not only will it get the job done but having access to parts will be easier than ever as well.

The move seems to open up the potential for more deals between GM and the military. There have even been mumblings of working autonomous vehicle solutions in the mix somewhere.

Below, the guys from TFL Truck were able to catch up with the man hauler and give us the grand tour of what the army will be using before long.