Chevrolet Asks Texans to Name Suburban the National Vehicle of Texas

Chevrolet has launched a petition to name their Suburban the “National Vehicle of Texas,” to honor the iconic SUV’s 85th anniversary. They have a valid reason on their side, since the Suburban is made exclusively in Texas. It’s manufactured in the Arlington manufacturing plant midway between Dallas and Fort Worth in North Texas.

The Suburban is the original Sport Utility Vehicle. First introduced in 1935, it’s now the longest-running nameplate in U.S. automotive industry. Starting MSRP for a 2020 Suburban is $52,095 for two-wheel drive editions, and $55,095 for the four-wheel drive models.

Chevrolet’s petition is live online at Change.org, and you can add your name at this link. Here are some pertinent (paraphrased) excerpts from the petition.

Chevrolet Petition

Photo: Chevrolet

Chevrolet Suburban’s online petition asks Texans to help them celebrate the “most Texan vehicle there is.”

Their claim to such a title apparently started in 1986, when a Texas Monthly writer called Suburban the “national car of Texas.” Since then, Chevrolet has stressed its special connection to the Lone Star State. Suburban celebrates its 85th birthday this year. It was first built in 1935, making it the longest-running sport utility vehicle (SUV) still on the road today.

Thank You Texas!

Photo: Chevrolet

With over 200,000 Suburbans in Texas now, it’s easy to see why five of the top ten Chevy Suburban dealers are located in our state. Both the Suburban and Tahoe, its slightly smaller sibling SUV, are built at GM’s Arlington Assembly Plant. The plant, midway between Dallas and Fort Worth, uses globally sourced parts in manufacturing the vehicles.

Suburbans were first used for commercial purposes. But its ability to haul more people and their gear proved attractive to other markets. Military buyers and law enforcement agencies bought Suburbans, and soon the SUV became a favorite for family road trips.

The 2020 Chevrolet Suburban, featuring new interior and exterior designs plus even more room for people and cargo, rolls off the Arlington assembly line in December.