DETROIT -

Big pickup inventories have apparently been piling up on dealer lots, and analysts are beginning to fear that automakers, domestics in particular, will be forced to ramp up incentives if demand doesn’t return, according to a recent report.

Apparently, General Motors is gaining attention because its Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra full-size trucks stood at 122 days at the end of June, about 50-percent higher than the 80 days generally preferred. This is also above the industry’s average of 99 days, reported Reuters, sourcing Ward’s Auto data.

Chrysler and Toyota are also in a similar position, with their inventories sitting at 93 days’ supply, while Ford stood at 79, the report indicated.

Since some economists, such as Manheim’s Tom Webb, are predicting a double-dip recession, or what would look like a “W” on a graph, speculation is apparently ramping up that automakers and dealers could get into pricing wars to move these large pickups if demand remains down.

In the past, Ford, General Motors and Chrysler were well-known for following each other’s lead when it comes to incentives. So if one automaker ramps incentives up to spark demand, the others could soon follow.

TrueCar.com’s Jesse Toprak is predicting that if demand doesn’t come back for these models, then a fire sale may result.

Prior to GM and Chrysler going through bankruptcy, these fire sales were much more common and likely one of the contributing factors that deeply cut into Chrysler and GM’s profits, ultimately forcing the companies into bankruptcy.

Since these two automakers have come out of bankruptcy, both have appeared to show some restraint in incentives and industry analysts seem to be watching this latest inventory trend with a close eye.

Ford, which avoided bankruptcy by leveraging many of its assets before the capital markets crashed, has also been showing restraint.

GM apparently has been telling Wall Street that its inventory levels will be fine. And some recent data from AutoTrader.com appears to indicate that a return to higher demand for larger trucks could be just around the corner.
 
AutoTrader.com revealed Friday that interest in big trucks on its site is already on the upswing, especially in the new-vehicle segment.
 
The site said the Dodge Ram 1500, Ford F-250 and the Chevrolet Silverado 2500 all moved up on the list of most-searched vehicles in June. The largest of the full-size trucks showed the most significant gains, as the new Ford F-250 moved up five spots month-over-month to No. 13, and the new Chevrolet Silverado 2500 moved up six spots month-over-month to No. 18.
 
Analysts also pointed out that demand for both of these vehicles showed an increase in asking price, as the F-250’s price increased 8.2 percent and the Silverado 2500’s price increased 10.6 percent year-over-year. 
 
On the used-car side, trucks also made a big comeback on the list of most-searched used vehicles.
 
The used Ford F-150 reclaimed the No. 1 spot, and the used Chevrolet Silverado 1500 moved up one spot to No. 3, while the used Ford F-250 ticked up two spots to No. 6.
 
Also trending higher on AutoTrader.com’s used charts were the used Dodge Ram 2500 edging up one spot to No. 17 and the used Toyota Tundra creeping higher by two spots to No. 19.
 
Analysts noted the biggest mover on the list of most-searched used vehicles in the truck segment, however, was the used Chevrolet Silverado 2500, which leapt four spots to land at No. 13.

To see the full Reuters report, visit www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/08/us-autos-trucks-idUSTRE7670G520110708.