Ford’s super light aluminium-bodied 2015 F-150 pickup made the rest of the market take a few steps back and revaluate their full-size truck strategy, a segment which is becoming increasingly hard to stay competitive in with more strict CAFE standards and emissions requirements. For the most part, General Motors has voiced confidence in its three-truck strategy, but that hasn’t stopped them from locking in an aluminum truck for the future.
GM is probably happier now more than ever that it set up an aluminum supplier for its next-generation of full-size pickups, which could arrive in 2018, as FIAT Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne announced recently that Ram is mulling over the same idea. During briefings to media on Tuesday, Reid Bigland, head of Ram Trucks, confirmed that an all-new light-duty Ram 1500 will launch in 2017. When asked if it will use aluminum in the same way the 2015 F-150 will, Marchionne said the company will be watching the F-150 launch closely and “if it’s the right answer, Chrysler will be there.”
Marchionne didn’t seem all for the aluminum idea, though, noting he has “better use of aluminum in this house than a pickup truck.”
If he isn’t completely convinced of the use of aluminum, maybe Ram will follow GM’s lead and introduce a mid-size truck offering. It turns out it’s something the company has thought about, but the response they received in regards to the idea has been average at best.
“I think there is room for a Ram 1000,” Marchionne said. “We’ve tried this … we’ve actually taken it to clinics.” He added the “response has been lukewarm.”
Ford has an aluminum pickup truck which will go on sale later this year, GM will use the material in the construction of its next-generation of full-size pickups and now, we know that Ram has the idea in its head as well. This appears to be the direction the full-size pickup truck market will take in the future, that is unless GM’s three-truck strategy exceeds expectations.
Comments
FCA’s new five year plan is inspiring. I think that Fiat has the capital, and discipline to take Chrysler to the next level. It’s already been proven. If anything, this is another perfect example of why GM need Pontiac. FCA is turning Dodge into what GM wanted Pontiac to become. They just didn’t execute it properly. I think that there is still room for improvement for both companies, but FCA is taking all the right steps. GM needs to do some of the same, when was the last time we saw a five year plan from Big Blue? GM just needs someone up top, or over them pushing them harder, and if they ever get that someone I can see them re-taking their number 1 spot, and maybe pushing Ford to number 2.
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GM is number 1 on sales here in the US and well over ford worldwide.
Actually I could not believe that they put out their future product plan. No one does that.
Well this whole truck deal I joke. The fact is they all in time will have aluminum full size and also offer smaller trucks. Less mass is the only way they can meet the future challenges. The numbers we know now will only increase.
It was a given for GM and Ram to go aluminum as it is the only way they can cut mass. GM put it off one cycle and tried to retain cost and profits for the present truck. Ram is still sorting out their post Chapter 11 bail out and that is why they have so few new products that have only just started to arrive.
As for Pontiac. As a Pontiac owner and fan I fully understand Buick can do anything Pontiac could have done. It is no different at Chrysler as Dodge can do anything Plymouth could have done. The fact is little room for models in the same price segment that already over laps some Chevy models.
he Fact is Fiat is not in good financial shape outside Ferrari and their other premium groups. To this point look at all the new product GM has already pushed out to remain viable and how little Chrysler has done. Even then the they still have a lot of refresh listed in their products to come that need to be replaced today.
You really need to dig down an look at the real product and also the reports of the financial health of these companies. They are all venerable even Ford if something goes wrong with their outstanding debts.
I will not say Fiat will tank Chrysler but to this point they need to do better than the Dart, 200 and Renegade. While better than they had it is still not up to class leading.
Agreed, plus I’m tired of the media love for Sergio. He has watered down Jeep with Audi inspired (ripped off) design; failed to stock Chrysler with enough product; offered a lemon flavored Dart promoted as industry leading; missed deadlines; has wasted Chrysler money on Alfa and, to a lesser extent, Europe as a whole.
How did he get Chrysler for free? Even in the economic meltdown, Chrysler had a fantastic dealer network that should have attracted international investers like land locked PSA or even the Nissan/Renault alliance with Carlos Goshen.
I’m sick of Fiat guys and the guts and glory “me too” crap from Ram. Go back to Italy.
Well it must just not have been me. I see their stock was down after this conference due to what the traders said was a week plan.
Just to note Tesla is down too and while none of the traders are yet betting against them doing another Lazarus they say that reality of building cars may finally surpass the Musk hype.
There was a very good story by Mark Vaughn in Autoweek on this. Mark said a few weeks ago that the realities of what Tesla faces to make the numbers they predict and need may be very difficult if they have to pay full price for plants unlike the one they have now they paid little to nothing for. Also the so call giga plant is still a mystery if it will really work.
Just to note I did see they killed of their E model already and will just focus on the X model.
Chrysler first demand here is to make several small world class cars that everyone would want. At this point they have not done one let alone 2-3 that is needed. The Jeep line with Fiat models remains to be seen if they are accepted. I just do not see many Wrangler types accepting a Renegade. These sales will depend on to Jeep owners.
Finally the Rams will have to go Aluminum and will have to have a smaller truck in the next 10 years. If not they will not be able to supply the income needed to keep Chrysler afloat as they have for the last 20 year.
Do not think the Ram name was separated from Dodge just by chance as it is a escape clause incase things on either side fail.
I do not want to see Chrysler fail as we need 3 strong American based companies but I just wonder if Fiat is up to the task.
RAM was separated as Fiat does not have a global truck brand. Alfa will be sold in Europe and Dodge domestically to consumers. Alfa’s in the USA will be exclusively their rich, high-end Cadillac V-series rivals.
But, the first comment in this thread got one thing right – Dodge is becoming what GM envisioned for Pontiac. A sports car for the everyman. The new Charger is what the G8 or Impala should be – and it’s the first modern car that I think is better than a G8. The Chevrolet SS should have that position, but GM continues to refuse to offer a V6 or LS2 V8, and the Caprice PPV is sales-restricted to police.
Combined with lifetime warranty options continuing to be tested in the waters by Chrysler, and GM needs better answers as Dodge starts to cannibalize GM performance consumers… because every Charger success story turns into a few Dart referrals too.
And with a new RWD platform, don’t think Dodge won’t ignore the budget roadster market after they get Barracuda out the door…
You believe Sergio. His plan is too kill off Dodge, reduce it to a tiny line up like Lancia in Europe.
This is not a new conversation. Since the mid 2000s, Chrysler had discussed various senarios for Dodge with each leaving the Chrysler brand responsible for mainstream passenger cars.
Dodge lost it’s mainstream spot long ago & has not kept up with Chevy and.Toyota. Longterm, FCA needs to reduce.brands, advertising cost, and Dodge is expendable.
No company tanks a division unless growth seems unlikley. A muscle Journey…..LOL!
I think Dodge will become Alfa Romeo’s low-to-mid-tier American brand, much like Buick and Opel are now tied at the hip. Dodge just took point on their first unified RWD global large sedan. That’s not a pole position you give to a team you’re looking to phase out.
FCA has handled the brand variety by making it easy for one dealership to license all FCA brands. Had GM done this during bankruptcy, I think their dealer network would be in much better shape today.
I’ve always said that in the 21st Century, you should be able to buy a Camaro, a Solstice, an Enclave, and a CTS from the same place. Consumers are savvy enough to know what they want and where to go in order to get it. FCA gets this.