Ram Trucks Will Always Be Dodges, Ram President Says

[Bigredmariner]

Source: pickuptrucks.com

There’s been some confusion surrounding the introduction of Chrysler’s new Ram brand and the separation of Dodge cars, crossovers and minivans from Dodge pickup trucks.


Ram President and CEO Fred Diaz has new guidance about the transition at Ram Zone, Ram's official blog.


“I want people to understand that although we will market and brand our Ram trucks as Ram trucks, they will always and forever be Dodges,” Diaz said. “They’ll always be VINed as a Dodge, and somewhere either on the exterior or the interior of the truck, you’ll always be able to see the Dodge logo and the Dodge name.”


Based on Diaz’s comments, you can look forward to Ram pickups continuing to carry Dodge badges for the foreseeable future.


And if you are wondering where the Dodge Dakota stands, we’re told it will remain just that, though it will be sold with Ram trucks at Dodge dealers until it leaves the lineup in 2011.

 

[DV2000NJ]

Why?

 

[OldCracker29]

That's good to hear 'cause, Chevy Ram, or Ford Ram just doesn't sound right. The Ram has been a symbol of Dodge forever, hasn't it?

 

[Nick The Great]

So . . . is this just some accounting parlor game?

 

[Bigredmariner]

So . . . is this just some accounting parlor game?

That's probably the best way to explain it.

 

[lilfroger]

By un-bundling the brand into Ram / Dodge / Jeep / Chrysler / etc / etc they can manage their contracts differently also.

This will give them some freedom to use different suppliers for different vehicles.

I see it as a huge plus for the Ram line because our sales numbers and manufacturing numbers will no longer be tied to the Journey and other failing brands.

Loosing the Dakota line will be a huge loss though. They had better have a baby truck ready to slide in and fill the whole pretty quick though. The Dak has never sold as well as the Ranger or S10 but it has always held a portion of the market. The folks that buy those rigs are not going to step up to a 1500 just to stay in a Dodge either. Mini-truckers buy that size rig for a very specific reason and they'll just jump flags.

 

[Draenor]

By un-bundling the brand into Ram / Dodge / Jeep / Chrysler / etc / etc they can manage their contracts differently also.

This will give them some freedom to use different suppliers for different vehicles.

I see it as a huge plus for the Ram line because our sales numbers and manufacturing numbers will no longer be tied to the Journey and other failing brands.

I never thought anout that..It would be awesome. The only downfall of this is the contacts currently in place between automaker and their suppliers.

 

[lilfroger]

A lot of the IPS (Independent Parts Suppliers) are having problems though. They are being sold and bought and shutdown. So a lot of contracts are left hanging in the balance.

If the Manufacture wants to step up or expand a product their existing contracts can interfere.

We will all just have to sit back and wait and see what comes and goes over the next few years.

I really hope the Fiat line is able to finally get some small (4 & 3 cyc ~ 2.5 l displacement or less) diesel engines into cars here in the US.

Europe has EVERYTHING in a diesel. Yeah they are paying 1.09 (pounds / per liter) for diesel right now. But have you ever seen a Kia mini-van here in the States get 42+ MPG in town? Dad's does ... but that's because it is a diesel and has MANUAL transmission.

If Fiat can get a couple of those small diesels here the MPG number for the country are going to sky rocket.

 

[mblouir]

Confusing when you look at how they stated it before.

 

[Darkanion]

Confusing when you look at how they stated it before.

Agreed. When I first read this, saying "they will always be Dodges," it sounded like a reaction to the backlash of them not being called Dodge Trucks anymore.. "Oh, shit! We're pissing off our customers! Quick! Someone write-up another press release and tell them we're keeping the Dodge name on the trucks 'somewhere!'"

The contract thing makes sense, though.. I figured it was also a way for them to chest-thump a little bit that they added a brand (at least in name), while GM was shutting some brands down..