- Ram’s chief financial officer acknowledges the need for a budget-friendly truck.
- The new affordable model could be a stripped-down version of the current 1500.
- It’s also working on a smaller pickup to compete against the Chevy Colorado.
Last year, under the leadership of Carlos Tavares, Stellantis made the controversial decision to kill off the Ram 1500 Classic. This truck, which had been based on the older 2008 version of the 1500, had been marketed as a more affordable alternative to the newer models. But, just six months later, Ram’s CFO is now admitting that the brand desperately needs a new model to fill the gap left by its decision to ax the Classic.
More: Leaked Doc Reveals Ram’s Hemi V8 Return, New Jeeps, TRX, And More
Speaking at a Wolfe Research conference, Doug Ostermann acknowledged that there’s a clear demand for a more budget-friendly full-size pickup. Introducing a model like this would mark a significant shift for Ram, as the brand tries to course-correct after several decisions made under Tavares, including the controversial removal of the Hemi V8 engine, which, according to reports, will make a comeback later this year.
Filling the Gap Left Behind
“We need to introduce kind of a lower-end trim of the new pickup to fill that gap [left behind by the 1500 Classic],” Ostermann said according to Bloomberg. While he noted that such a model wouldn’t be arriving “immediately,” there was no clarity on the timeline for its introduction.
Ram’s decision last year to kill off the 1500 Classic was costly—not just in terms of fan outrage, but also in jobs. Around 1,100 people lost their positions at the Warren Truck Assembly Plant in Michigan. In 2024, Ram reported a 15% drop in pickup sales in the United States, and it seems they’re hoping a more affordable truck will help reverse that trend.
What Will the New Pickup Look Like?
Exactly what form this new affordable pickup will take is still up in the air. Will it follow in the footsteps of the 1500 Classic, or will it be a stripped-down version of the current 1500? Only time will tell.
Read: Ram Boss “Desperately” Wants A Smaller Pickup
In addition to this, Ram is also developing a smaller model that could compete with mid-size trucks like the Ford Ranger or Chevrolet Colorado. Alternatively, it might target the more compact Ford Maverick or Hyundai Santa Cruz. This truck could be based on a unibody platform from Stellantis, in which case, it would likely to be built at the Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois.
