Ram Trucks

For the historic Dodge trucks that were collectively referred to as "Dodge Ram", see Dodge Ram.
Ram Trucks
Division of FCA US LLC
Industry Automobile
Founded 1981 (as Dodge Trucks)
2009 (as Ram Trucks)
Headquarters Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA Administration, Research & Design
Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico Production & Engineering
Area served
 North America, Middle East, Brazil, Peru
Key people
 Robert J. Hegbloom (President and CEO, Ram Brand)
Products Trucks, Vans, Luxury vehicles
Parent FCA US LLC
Website RamTrucks.com

Ram Trucks (formally known as the Ram Truck Division) is a United States-based brand of light to mid-weight pickup trucks established in 2010 as a division of FCA US LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. It was formerly known as the Dodge Truck Division.

Background

Ram Trucks was established as a division of Chrysler in 2010, as a spinoff from Dodge, using the name of the popular Dodge Ram line of pickups that is now sold under the Ram banner.[1] According to Chrysler, the Ram brand will concentrate on "real truck customers," rather than casual truck buyers who buy trucks for image or style.[2]

The Ram brand was created following Chrysler's acquisition by Italian automaker Fiat S.p.A., and the plans called for Dodge switching to an exclusively car-based lineup with all pickup and future heavy-duty trucks by Chrysler being sold under the Ram brand. This was to start in the 2010 calendar year. The Fiat Ducato cargo van design has been adopted and is sold as the Ram ProMaster in North American markets, filling the gap created when Daimler ended production of the Dodge Sprinter in 2008. The goal was to increase truck sales "from today's 280,000 to 415,000 by 2014".[3]

Executives at Chrysler have stated their intention to compete in the semi-trailer truck category with Ram, a possibility that is aided by Fiat's ownership of Iveco and an already available network of Dodge dealers. Even though the Ram trucks are marketed separately from Dodge cars, Former Ram Division President Fred Diaz stated, "Ram trucks will always and forever be Dodges. Ram will always have the Dodge emblem inside and outside and they will be vinned as a Dodge. We need to continue to market as Ram so Dodge can have a different brand identity: hip, cool, young, energetic. That will not fit the campaign for truck buyers. The two should have distinct themes."[4]

In April 2013, Former CEO Fred Diaz left RAM to serve as vice president of Nissan's divisional sales and marketing. He was replaced by Reid Bigland.[5]

In August 2014, Ram truck brand CEO Reid Bigland was tapped to lead the Alfa Romeo brand in North America. It was announced that the new head of the Ram truck brand would be longtime Chrysler employee Robert Hegbloom, who joined Chrysler in 1986 and had been a director for the Ram truck brand.[6]

The Ram brand logo features the head of a ram, formerly the logo used by Dodge.

Trucks

For specifically foreign-market models (designed by Chrysler Europe, etc.), see below.

Also note that from 1927 to 1928, all trucks built by Dodge were actually sold under the Graham name, as that company held the marketing rights at that time.

Current

Former

Production

Ram utilizes three facilities, all in North America for the production of its vehicles.

Warren Truck Assembly, Warren, Michigan, USA. First opened in 1938, the facility has produced trucks for Dodge and Ram for over 70 years. Near the plant are also the Warren metal stamping plant, Mount Elliot tool and die plant which contribute parts and components to the manufacture of the Dakota and 1500 series.

The following models are currently assembled at the plant:

Saltillo Truck Assembly, Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico. The plant manufactures the full range of the Ram truck series as well as the DX Chassis cab. The plant has won numerous awards and has been recognized as the Chrysler groups best truck facility in terms of build quality.[7] The Saltillo stamping plant is also attached to the facility.

The following models are built at the plant:

Windsor Assembly, Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The plant manufactures all vans built on the Chrysler S platform including the Ram Cargo Van, Chrysler Town and Country, Dodge Grand Caravan, Lancia Voyager and Volkswagen Routan. The plant makes just one model for Ram.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Ram brand created, Gilles to lead Dodge cars and Fong leaves in Chrysler shakeup". AutoWeek. 2009-10-05. Retrieved 2011-01-23.
  2. ↑ Hoffman, Bryce G. "Chrysler brands to aim appeal at specific lifestyles", The Detroit News, 2009-11-05, retrieved on 2009-11-07.
  3. ↑ Kilcarr, Sean (2009-11-05). "Chrysler to get Fiat commercial vans". Fleet Owner. Retrieved 2011-01-23.
  4. ↑ McElroy, John (2009-11-06). "Chrysler Considers Getting Back Into Big Rigs". Autoline on Autoblog. Retrieved 2011-01-23.
  5. ↑ "Reid Bigland Gets Top Spot at Ram". pickuptrucks.com. 2013. Retrieved 2014-06-22.
  6. ↑ "Robert Hegbloom named head of Ram truck brand". trucktrend.com. 2014. Retrieved 2014-08-18.
  7. ↑ Dodge in Mexico: a history by Jaime Hale. "Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge in Mexico". Allpar.com. Retrieved 2014-06-22.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ram Trucks.
Dodge / Ram truck timeline, North American market, 1970s–present
Type 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
0123456789 0123456789 0123456789 0123456789 012345
Mid-size crossover Journey
Compact SUV Raider Nitro
Mid-size SUV Durango
Full-size SUV Ramcharger Ramcharger Ramcharger Durango Durango
Coupé utility Rampage Ram 750
Compact pickup D-50 Ram 50 Ram 50
Mid-size pickup Dakota Dakota Dakota Dakota
Full-size pickup D Series D Series Ram (D Series) Ram Ram Ram 1500
Ram SRT-10 2500/3500
Minivan Caravan CV/GCV CV/GCV CV/GCV CV/GCV Grand Caravan
ProMaster City
Van A100 Tradesman Ram Van/Ram Wagon Ram Van/Ram Wagon ProMaster
Sprinter Sprinter Ram C/V
Heavy-duty truck LCF/C Series
After Fiat S.p.A. acquired Chrysler LLC in 2009, trucks were no longer designated as Dodge, but exclusively as Ram. Brown color indicates Ram models