Lucas Bell 
Just about everyone would agree that 2020 has been the worst. Looking just at the automotive industry, there’s been unprecedented events such as products being delayed, international auto shows being canceled, and production facilities having their doors shuttered. And yet after all of this, the crop of GM SUVs have come under fire from yet another one of 2020’s curveballs: Texan Mayflies.
According to a report from Automotive News, these Mayflies are potentially responsible for depositing a residue on more than 2,600 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe and 2021 GMC Yukon SUVs built at the company’s Arlington, Texas facility. The vehicles were stored next to a lake, which is where these pesky insects call home. This residue that’s been left behind on the SUVs is quite unsightly, and can cause damage to the vehicle’s paint if not removed properly. These newly redesigned models were waiting to be sent out to dealers when the bugs got involved, forcing General Motors to delay delivery of the SUVs after they became aware of the issue. Less than 100 of these affected GM SUVs left the factory before the company’s cleaning process was put in place.
If the automaker were to cover their vehicles on the way to the dealer like they do with the C8 Corvette, perhaps this problem could have been avoided.
Dealerships across the country are already facing inventory issues, following the eight-week shutdown experienced by almost every North American production facility earlier this year. This mayfly-related delay in Texas certainly doesn’t help this supply issue, which is problematic considering how important these GM SUVs are to dealer’s bottom lines. According to that Automotive News report, one Oklahoma dealer waited three months for GM to deliver a Tahoe they had ordered, only to have to repaint the truck’s hood as a result of the damaging residue. Not the type of first interaction you want your dealers to have with a brand new product.
The new lineup of full-size GM SUVs is truly a step above their predecessors, and they are poised to continue the company’s dominance in the segment. However, 2020 couldn’t let The General off the hook that easy, because that just isn’t how this year works apparently. So long as the hordes of another type of bug stay away, we’re sure this issue isn’t a sign of other things to come.
