Fiat green lights new Ram brand, pulls ahead first Fiat-based Chrysler model
10/01/2009, 11:15 AM
By Drew Johnson
Following rumors that broke late last month, Fiat will move forward with a plan to create a separate Ram brand within Chrysler’s Dodge division. In addition to the new Ram brand plan, Fiat has also decided to rush Chrysler’s first Fiat-based model to market by 2011.
According to Automotive News, Fiat will reveal its new plans for Chrysler to the United States government this week.
Under Fiat’s plan for the Ram brand, all of Dodge’s truck offering will be moved to the new division. That shift will include vehicles like the Dakota pickup truck, but could also include SUV models, such as the upcoming Dodge Durango.
The decision to move Dodge’s truck offerings to a new Ram brand will clear the way for Fiat to transform the Dodge brand into a performance car division, similar to the Italian automaker’s Alfa Rome brand. Additionally, the separation will make the sale of Dodge’s truck operation much easier, should the need arise down the road.
It remains unclear what Fiat-based Chrysler model will be launched in 2011, but it will be in addition to the Fiat 500, set to launch next year.



10/01, 11:20 AM
posted by:
fan
before the bashfest begins: its alfa romeO, not alfa rome—
10/01, 11:23 AM
posted by:
teahead
Weird move.
Oh well…better than nothing. I thank everyday for the bailout.
10/01, 11:28 AM
posted by:
DenverGuy217
I thought they were bringing Alfa RomeO models over to be the performance brand in the new company? Does this mean Dodge will be ‘affordable’ performance vehicles and those dealers will also sell Alfas as high-end performance vehicles? So Dodge moves to performance, Ram for trucks and Chrysler heads way up market for luxury…um where’s the bread-n-butter brand that competes against Chevy and Ford? So confusing…
10/01, 11:29 AM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Marchionne is one smart dude. Shoot for the stars, but cover your ass at the same time. I just hope Chrysler can somehow manage to keep flogging enough of their current offerings to keep their head above water until the good stuff starts coming.
10/01, 11:38 AM
posted by:
chryslercurse
just what the world needs another Brand out there …….Did anyone notice Saturn’s out come ?
10/01, 11:58 AM
posted by:
RaineMan
Now maybe they can sell the truck division to Nissan and get back to making cars.
10/01, 12:05 PM
posted by:
moparsalesman1
nissan wanted us to make their truck
10/01, 12:17 PM
posted by:
carstuff
Probably you will see the bread and butter vehicles that compete with Toyota and Chevy branded as Fiats. With the new MPG rules look for subcompact, compact and midsize FWD fiats sold alongside RWD Dodges/Chryslers and Ram trucks.
Makes sense IF the Fiat cars can really compete with Toyota and Chevy.
OR bring back the Plymouth name.
10/01, 12:22 PM
posted by:
zfenderguy
Nissan could stand to get that full size platform, that’s for sure. They could also stand to take the midsize platform out back and shoot it. Then run over it with a 4×4 Frontier.
10/01, 12:44 PM
posted by:
F50
They should make Dodge something like a performance-volume brand, make volume cars that are fun to drive, that would be great imo. Or bring back Plymouth and throw the PT Cruiser and Fiat model’s in there.
and they should probably bring a new Stealth/Daytona, based on the C-Evo, would make a nice base coupe for Dodge.
Not sure about this Ram brand…. Ram Ram? Ram Dakota? Ram Durango? is that how they will be called?
10/01, 1:05 PM
posted by:
lemonade
brilliant move. this is more about developing a better strategy for the Dodge brand (only cars with no trucks) that will help them meet the tough new fuel economy/emission regulations being discussed. Trucks will have their own regs. All of D3 will likely copy this.
10/01, 1:26 PM
posted by:
Borat
Does this mean new division/dealership group? Are those will be sold in the same showroom as cars? What RAM brand means? Generic truck? Are those FIAT cargo vans will be sold along as RAMs?
10/01, 1:28 PM
posted by:
aesir
This is good news.
10/01, 1:37 PM
posted by:
chevymanc6
That’s really stupid. just keep the trucks Dodges. It can be a performance car brand and a truck brand. No need to split them up. But there’s a lot of room for sporty cars now that Pontiac is almost dead. GM is going to lose so many buyers after Pontiac dies. But Chrysler might lose some buyers and lost of money if they move Dodge trucks into their own dealer network. It will be very expensive for them.
10/01, 1:43 PM
posted by:
worst 3
I would rather them still be one but I’m not to worried about the trucks as fiat will let them keep doing the work on trucks and suvs. van may be Fiat but who cares about vans as long as they work well.
I just hop that Dodge dose not just become Alfa Romeo cars and they still keep there American muscle car heritage. one or two smaller sports cars from Alfa wont be bad and maby one standalone mid/large. They better not turn the charger, challenger or viper in to Italian cars. If they do I would not look at dodge cars.
10/01, 1:49 PM
posted by:
KarLoveBoy88
I can see Ford doing the same thing to its F-Series line of trucks, but what would be named? Lariat by Ford? Anyways, i believe they are moving the right direction for the Chrysler group in America. I believe that its more focused.
10/01, 2:15 PM
posted by:
ozyran
Well gee, I guess no one will get the courtesy of a warning anymore.
It used to be that you would never stand in the way of a truck that says, “Dodge” on the front and “Ram” on the side.
Now it’s Ram Ram? Ram the Ram?
Meh. At least the trucks live on.
10/01, 4:28 PM
posted by:
leftwingagenda
new slogan: “Get Rammed!!”
10/01, 4:33 PM
posted by:
armstealer
…and in unrelated news
10/01, 4:37 PM
posted by:
leftwingagenda
you got rammed?
10/01, 5:30 PM
posted by:
elmdodge
SOUNDS like their gonna take the truck franchise away from current dealers and then try and sell it back to them (similar to the sprinter fiasco ) same greedy detroit assholes
10/01, 5:32 PM
posted by:
elmdodge
any one hear that jim press is in the witness protection program ?
10/01, 9:58 PM
posted by:
Kafziel
Hi, I’m new here.
Am I the only one who doesn’t like this move? Part of Dodge’s appeal to me has always been the macho angle, and I felt that the Ram was an important part of that. With the trucks being spun off into their own brand, what is Dodge going to become? The American version of Mazda or Subaru?
Not that I think that’s a bad thing or anything, just gonna take some getting used to. As long as the Viper doesn’t go anywhere (and it remains an uncivilized brute), I’m happy.
10/02, 6:30 PM
posted by:
steve333
This is absolutely moronic. People buy Ram trucks and Durango’s etc because they are a Dodge vehicle.
Dodge still has cache and it’s ridiculous to pin the sporty title to a brand that will also produce compacts, sub compacts and mid-size cars.
This is a dumb move, IMO
10/04, 1:40 PM
posted by:
krautninja
Steve Pontiac did fine holding the sporty title and they produced compacts subcompacts and mid sized cars. There is nothing wrong with producing all those cars in a fun to drive package. Mazda got the hang of this and look where they stand.the only problem remains is like a few people here said, are they gona try to make all these sporty cars ther bread and butter cars, or are they gonna have to bring back plymouth or seell fiats as the mainstream volume cars