Touted GM Truck Takes Detour Away From State

General Motors Corp. did not ship its fast-selling and highly profitable new full-size pickup truck to California in October because of fears that buyers would object to noise created by emissions equipment for the state, the company said Sunday.

GM stopped shipping the trucks--sold in differing forms as both the Chevrolet Silverado and the GMC Sierra--with California emissions control equipment because one piece--an air-pump valve--makes more noise than the company preferred, said GM spokesman Tom Pyden. He added that it was deferring California shipments until the part could be replaced. Shipments are expected to resume early this month.

The noisy valve does not present a safety problem, GM said.

“It was something we decided was the right thing to do for long-term customer satisfaction,” he said.

The news comes just as GM launched a $135-million advertising campaign--the company’s largest ever--for the Silverado. It also comes on top of delays caused by two strikes at parts plants in Flint, Mich., this summer as the new truck was being launched.

Pyden declined to say how many trucks were involved, but he said GM had produced more than 80,000 vehicles in all.

In the interim, GM is shipping the previous model C/K pickup, made in Arlington, Texas, to California dealers, while the halted shipments are being redirected to other states without the special equipment used to meet California’s strict emissions standards.

Pyden would not say how many sales of the new pickup California is expected to account for, but it is one of the largest U.S. markets for all auto makers.