Trucks are keeping sales of new vehicles afloat in the U.S. and the traditional full-size pickup trucks is king of the road. But General Motors is experimenting with new downsized pickup trucks in China.

　　The SAIC-GM-Wuling has added the new Wuling Rong Guang mini-pickup to the Rong Guang family. The new mini-pickup will be available in variations powered by a choice of 1.5-liter or 1.8-liter engines, and a single or crew cab and in American dollars, prices start under $8,000.

　　The Rong Guang mini-pickup carries forward Wuling’s well-earned reputation for products that can “handle large loads, run fast and offer reliability and quality.”

　　The Rong Guang mini-pickup meets users’ needs for even more cargo space, while being able to enter tight parking areas. The single cab has a length of 3,150 mm and width of 1,630 mm, and its bed has a height of 360 mm. The crew cab has a length of 2,450 mm and width of 1,630 mm, and its bed has a height of 360 mm.

　　Its 1.5-liter and 1.8-liter engines generate stronger output to carry heavy loads. The separate design of the cab and bed have improved the overall strength of the Rong Guang mini pickup, GM officials said. Leaf springs have been added to the rear wheels, for a smoother and safer ride. In addition, the Rong Guang mini pickup comes with Electric Power Steering across its lineup for easier handling.

　　SAIC or the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. is one of China’s largest carmakers and GM principal partner in China for the more than 20 years. Wuling is jointly owned by GM and SAIC and builds vehicles for markets in rural China, but it also builds vehicles that are now exported to Southeast Asia.

　　GM has no plans to bring the mini-pickup trucks, which are dwarfed by midsized pickup trucks such as the Chevrolet Colorado and Toyota Tacoma, to the U.S. However, the existence of new pickup trucks does offer GM an additional option should the market in the U.S. ever downshift to smaller pickups.

　　Like all vehicles GM now builds in China, the new mini pickup is also a candidate for electrification.