The all-new 2009 Dodge Ram is slated to roll into dealer showrooms this fall, but Dodge dealers are having a difficult time clearing out the 2008 model to make room for the new truck. Due to the high price of fuel and a sagging market — especially in the full-size truck segment — some Dodge dealers are offering up to $13,000 off the Ram ’s sticker price.
The all-new Ram will begin showing up on dealers’ lots in about four months, but Dodge still has a 109 day supply of the 2008 model. The Ram had the most money placed on its hood of any vehicle in March, with an average incentive of $8,260 per vehicle, according to Edmunds. Most dealers were also offering incentives beyond the factory’s, sometimes totaling as much as $13,000.
The 2009 Ram will also face some stiff competition as Ford is releasing a new F-150 for 2009 and GM and Toyota both have relatively new trucks on the market. “It is absolutely tough out there for pickup trucks, both in terms of the competition and some buyers waiting on the sidelines,†Steven Landry, Chrysler LLC executive vice president for North America sales, told Automotive News. “We have pretty aggressive incentives out there and will remain competitive.â€
Overall, pickup truck sales are down 16.6 percent through the first four months of 2008.
