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Stellantis Delays Electric Ram Pickup to Prioritize Plug-in Hybrid Ramcharger

In December 8, Stellantis announced that it will stall the launch of its fully-electric Ram pickup by another year, delaying its availability from 2025 until 2026. The company cited its shift towards an electric truck with an extended range, named the Ramcharger, as the primary reason for the decision. The Ramcharger combines electric vehicle technology with a gasoline engine, responding to stronger customer interest in this option, while demand for fully battery-electric trucks has been slowing. 

The Ramcharger is an EREV, or Extended Range Electric Vehicle and it is powered by a 3.6-liter V6 gas-powered engine, with a 92-kWh battery and a 130-kW electric generator. When the battery is depleted, a gas-powered generator will activate to enable the truck to continue operation. Stellantis estimates that the Ramcharger will offer a total range of up to 690 miles, with up to 145 miles powered solely by electricity. 

Orders for the Ramcharger are expected to begin in the first half of 2025, as the all-electric Ram 1500 REV hits the market in 2026. The strategic delay of the full battery electric Ram pickup is seen by many as a response to the slower-than-expected roll-out of EVs especially in the pickup truck class, which has proven challenging in regards to profitability for its competitors. 

The change in direction is a significant development for the Ram brand, as it was announced during the newly restored CEO Tim Kuniskis’s first major update for the brand. Kuniskis rejoined Stellantis following a leadership restructuring and acknowledged that there had to be a shift as the slow sales of the redesigned Ram 1500 and the delay of the heavy-duty truck lineup in the brand presented challenges. He mentioned the Ramcharger as essential in meeting the expectations of the customers in terms of balancing power, range, and utility. 

The Ramcharger is expected to bridge the gap in the market where consumers are looking for an electric vehicle that offers reliability and long-range capabilities similar to traditional trucks but with the added benefit of zero-emission driving when possible. This decision reflects Stellantis’ strategy of prioritizing consumer demand in a changing electric vehicle market landscape. This delay of the all-electric Ram pickup falls in a larger trend of reevaluation within the auto industry, given that carmakers are taking a hard look at their EV strategy amidst economic pressure and shifts in consumer interest for a fully electric model.