DETROIT - General Motors will sell a compressed natural gas bi-fuel version of its Sierra and Silverado commercial pickup trucks early in the fourth quarter of 2012.

"Customers want a choice when it comes to fuel because it helps them manage their business costs," said Brian Small, general manager, GM Fleet and Commercial Operations. "We listened and we are going to move fast to bring a bi-fuel CNG product to market to meet our customer's needs."

GM is the only manufacturer currently providing a single-source commercial option with the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana CNG cargo vans. The addition of a bi-fuel CNG pickup will help satisfy a broader range of needs for commercial customers looking for a one-stop alternative fuel vehicle from the factory. This allows  business owners to spend more time focusing on their business instead of the complexities associated with vehicle up-fitting.

"GM's original equipment is engineered, validated and warranted which makes the decision to purchase our bi-fuel pick-up trucks easy," said Joyce Mattman, director, GM Commercial Product and Specialty Vehicles. "Like our CNG vans, this turnkey product will be the best solution in the market and makes good business sense."

The bi-fuel commercial trucks will be covered by GM's three-year, 36,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty and five-year, 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty and vehicle emissions warranty, meeting all Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) emission certification requirements.

IMPCO Automotive is the Tier-One supplier for integrating the CNG bi-fuel delivery and storage system into the pickups alongside the Express and Savana CNG-dedicated cargo vans at IMPCO Automotive's facility in Union City, Ind.