A pickup truck, also known as a pickup or ute (in Australia and New Zealand), and bakkie (in South Africa), is a light to medium-duty truck characterized by its enclosed cabin and an open cargo bed at the rear, bordered by three low walls without a roof. The name variations reflect regional differences in terminology for this type of utility vehicle.
In 1902, Max and Morris Grabowsky founded the Rapid Motor Vehicle Company, building one-ton trucks in Pontiac, Michigan.
In 1913, the Galion Allsteel Body Company built and installed hauling boxes on slightly modified Ford Model T chassis.
In 1913, the term 'pickup' was used by Studebaker.
From 1917, the Galion Allsteel Body Company built and installed hauling boxes on Ford Model TT chassis.
In 1924, Dodge introduced a 3/4-ton pickup with a full wood cab and body.
In 1925, Ford introduced a steel-bodied half-ton based on the Model T, featuring an adjustable tailgate and heavy-duty rear springs, known as the "Ford Model T Runabout with Pickup Body" selling for US$281.
In 1928, Ford replaced the Model T with the Model A, which had a closed-cab, safety-glass windshield, roll-up side windows, and three-speed transmission.
In 1931, General Motors introduced light-duty pickups for GMC and Chevrolet, based on the Chevrolet Master.
In 1932, the Ford Australian division produced the first Australian "ute".
In 1936, Dodge switched to distinct, dedicated truck frames.
In 1939, Dodge/Fargo launched an extensive truck range marketed as the "Job-Rated" trucks, featuring Art Deco styling.
In 1940, GM introduced the AK series light-truck platform, separate from passenger cars. Also in 1940, Ford offered a dedicated light-duty truck platform.
In 1948, Ford upgraded its dedicated light-duty truck platform after World War II to the Ford F-Series.
In 1952, the Volkswagen Transporter, an early cab-forward, drop-sided pickup, was introduced.
The first fleet-sided pickup truck was the Crosley in the 1940s, followed by the 1955 Chevrolet Cameo Carrier.
In 1957, Ford's purpose-built Styleside was introduced. Also in 1957, crew cabs started to become popular and were released in Japan with the Datsun 220 and in America with the International Travelette.
In 1957, International Harvester made the first crew-cab truck in the United States.
In 1959, the original Mini was released.
In 1961, the British Motor Corporation launched an Austin Mini Pickup version of the original 1959 Mini in the UK. It was in production until 1983.
In 1962, the Hino Briska was introduced.
In 1963, Dodge introduced a crew cab.
In 1963, Dodge introduced a crew-cab truck.
In 1963, the US chicken tax curtailed the import of the Volkswagen Type 2, affecting countries seeking to bring light trucks into the United States and effectively "squeezed smaller Asian truck companies out of the American pickup market."
In 1965, Ford introduced a crew cab.
In 1965, Ford introduced a crew-cab truck.
In 1973, Chevrolet introduced a crew-cab truck.
In 1973, Chrysler introduced the Club Cab on its Dodge D-series pickup trucks, marking the first extended-cab truck in the United States.
In 1973, General Motors introduced a crew cab.
In 1973, the US government's Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) policy set higher fuel-economy requirements for cars than pickups, eventually leading to the promotion of sport utility vehicles (SUVs).
In 1978, the gas guzzler tax, which taxed fuel-inefficient cars while exempting pickup trucks, further distorted the market in favor of pickups.
The Ford F-150 has been the best-selling vehicle in the United States since 1982.
In 1983, the Austin Mini Pickup ended its production run.
Consumer pickup trucks sold in the US have increased in weight by 32% since 1990.
In 1997, the Chevrolet S-10 EV was released, but few were sold, and those were mostly to fleet operators.
Until 1999, light trucks were not required to meet the same safety standards as cars.
In 2001, half-ton trucks like the Ford F-150 became available in four-door configuration.
Chevrolet and GMC last used the Stepside style on the 2005 Silverado and Sierra 1500 models.
A total of 575 children in the US died in front-over deaths between 2009 and 2019, most by their parents.
Ford last used the Flareside style on the 2009 F-150.
Additionally, US car-related fatalities went up by 8% and pedestrian casualties increased by 46% between 2011 and 2021.
Annual surveys of Ford F-150 owners from 2012 to 2021 revealed that 87% of the owners used their trucks frequently for shopping and running errands and 70% for pleasure driving.
In Europe, pickups represent less than 1% of light vehicles sold, the most popular being the Ford Ranger with 27,300 units sold in 2015.
As of 2016, the IRS offers tax breaks for business use of "any vehicle equipped with a cargo area ... of at least six feet in interior length that is not readily accessible from the passenger compartment".
In 2018, Kelley Blue Book cited the average cost of a new Ford F-150, including optional features, was US$47,174.
A total of 575 children in the US died in front-over deaths between 2009 and 2019, most by their parents.
Additionally, US car-related fatalities went up by 8% and pedestrian casualties increased by 46% between 2011 and 2021.
Annual surveys of Ford F-150 owners from 2012 to 2021 revealed that 87% of the owners used their trucks frequently for shopping and running errands and 70% for pleasure driving.
By 2023, pickup trucks had become strictly more lifestyle than utilitarian vehicles and a 2023 F-150 consisted of 63% cab and 37% bed.
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