GM’s crosstown rival, Stellantis, just unveiled the new Ram Rampage in Brazil. Although the new pickup will obviously be sold in South America, GM Authority recently confirmed that the new Ram Rampage pickup will be sold in North America as well. Critically, that leaves GM as the last of the Detroit Big Three automakers (General Motors, Stellantis, and Ford) without a compact pickup model for sale in the U.S.
Over in the Ford camp, the Blue Oval brand is offering the Ford Maverick as a rival to the forthcoming Ram Rampage. Launching for the 2022 model year, the compact Ford Maverick has been in high demand, and in response, Ford is planning to add a third shift to its Hermosillo Assembly plant in July, hiring 1,100 new direct workers and 5,000 indirect employees, per a report from our sister publication, Ford Authority.
Nevertheless, Ford CEO Jim Farley thinks that even the additional production capacity won’t be enough to satisfy demand, recently stating at Ford’s annual shareholder meeting that the automaker “completely under-called the demand for Mavericks.”
“So, I’m not confident even with the capacity increase that we’re going to have a lot of Mavericks available to everyone,” Farley said.
Now, Stellantis is looking to get in on the action with the new Ram Rampage. Although full details are still forthcoming, we do know that the Ram Rampage features a compact, unibody design, as well as a large infotainment screen mounted centrally on the dash in an upright, “floating” positioning. Engine specs may include the same turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder equipped by the 2023 Jeep Compass, which is rated at 200 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque.
Meanwhile, GM is left without a competitor in this space, at least in the U.S. In Mexico and South America, The General offers the Chevy Montana, but for now, GM has no plans (at least no known plans) to offer the Montana stateside.
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Comments
As a lifelong GM fan/owner, sadly it seems to be nothing new for them to be bringing up the rear as of late. If GM would make a compact pickup, I would be first in line to trade in my ’17 Cruze RS on one. I love the Cruze, but having a truck bed would be nice.
Oh well, I suppose Barra and her crew will continue concentrating on their boring cookie-cutter CUV’s and lining the pockets of Xi Jinping/CCP with all of the lithium they purchase to build their EV batteries. Oy vey…
Good ‘Ol tunnel vision Mary, again.
Time to bring back the chevy s10 ! The gen 1and gen 2’s were voted the best compact pickups ever !
The S10 was an awesome vehicle. So many people loved that product.
Only Ford or GM for us! Mainly newer Ford vehicles in driveway these days but really want new C8 Stingray. Need get on waiting list for that amazing sports car! Maverick small truck is outstanding an will dominate no matter how many brands release new small truck. Ford has nice head start! Its well built. Drives beautifully. Its very capable w/ proven hybrid & Gen2 – 2.0L GTDI powertrain. Has Tremor off rd edition too. Everyone we know w/ one loves it.
Simple ..get a new Maverick small truck. If ya can find one! Fastest selling vehicle of ’22. Fair priced, well built & drives great. Was able to carefully test one that was already sold @my local dealer. Very impressed . This wasn’t a high end model either. Was XLT FX4.. w/ proven, excellent gen2- 2.0L GTDI. Looking to get one as backup / 2nd vehicle very soon even if I need order it.
Super practical and ease of use. The US has flirted with utes before in various forms over the past sixty years. I think this go-around will stick for a while. I love the concept and would like to see GM bring the Montana stateside.
Don’t know if they could get it to pass regulations or if they even considered making it available to the US when designing the current gen. There is a lot of room in this segment and once again GM is nowhere to be found.
Ditto,
But There’s a reason GM isn’t bringing the Montana to the US, and for that matter, ram might not either. Ford it touting “excellent enthusiasm” for the maverick, but not ramping up production. That’s because it is a niche market. Most want larger trucks like the Silverado/Colorado. The reason ford can’t keep them on the lots is because there is no current supply for this class and everyone in the niche is trying to get one at the same time. By this time next year sales will stabilize. FYI, the Mav sells only 6000 units/month, so that’s 1/12th the F Series. If ram comes stateside, then the extra competition in the segment drops the Mav to 4000/month, and if Chevy joins, 3000/month. Less than 1/20th the F series.
Great vehicle, but there needs to be a balance, and more importantly profit. I honestly think a better approach would be to take the traverse and avalanche it. Try winning over some Nissan/hundai buyers. Something a bit bigger than the Mav yet they can dilute the costs with the traverse/Acadia.
Steve: you obviously have experience in the industry and w/in GM. I have 30ish years in the industry. What GM’s data isn’t showing is the amount of people that currently have crossovers like Trailblazer/Equinox/Edge/Rav4 etc. that would like to have a pickups versatility, but cannot afford $40,000+, the extra step-in height, or reduced gas mileage. They don’t need to tow 7000 lbs, but they would like something that can haul something that isn’t easily hauled in an SUV. A bicycle, wood pellets, garbage, leaves, branches, a gardening supplies. Avalanching a Traverse would make a great vehicle, but it would miss the price point of the segment by a mile. I’ve looked at the line up and if they added 10-12 inches to the wheelbase of an Equinox, added additional transmission/engine cooling (to provide additional tow capacity with a tow pkg) they’d have something that would be great and hit the price point.
They have the capacity and flexibility to build it. The chassis is proven, the fuel mileage is good, the safety rating is good. It could be done in pretty amazing time if they chose that option.
I think this segment has the potential, with millennials, to be like the caravan in the 80’s (I realize that may be a little bold, but for illustration purposes the comparison works.
Ford has INDEED ramped up production on its excellent Maverick small truck w/ 3rd shift @plant building it. Ford WONT add an all new plant tho to build more. It was fastest selling vehicle of ’22. Def worth it for nice, well built, small 4wd truck under $30k. We may add one to household this summer. Local dealers are finally getting some stock on lots.
Maverick has hit the sweet spot for a “smaller truck”. Any bigger an ya infringe directly into midsized truck class. Ford did it right here I think. Design an affordable, well built small truck w/ enough tech (keep young ppl happy) & enough power for contractor types. While getting great mpgs! Most of us knew everyone would be copying Maverick after stellar 1st yr/rave reviews. Hyundais entry is hideous & selling poorly. Yoda will no doubt copy Ford & get into market. GM could very easily design a good small truck. In fact i expected them to have 1st rival vehicle after Maverick had 2yrs worth of orders in less than 12mos!
“But There’s a reason GM isn’t bringing the Montana to the US, and for that matter, ram might not either. Ford it touting “excellent enthusiasm” for the maverick, but not ramping up production.”
Did you even bother to read the article? Ram is entering and Ford is ramping up production.
Industry forecasters are saying Ford could sell 3x the number of Mavericks they can produce currently and now Ram is jumping onboard as is Toyota. You can be sure others are looking at the segment as well.
GM isn’t jumping onboard right now because the Montana doesn’t fit into their all EV asap mantra.
“Niche market”….nonsense.
A long time ago chevy had a terrain truck
Gone (long gone) are the days when GM was a leader in product development and design. Now it’s a case of react (or do nothing) when competition comes up with new segment challenges. Very sad.
And this all electric nonsense will end in bankruptcy again.
GM willfully ignores hybrid and hydrogen tech at its own peril.
They currently lead in CUV sales (Chevy/GMC/Buick all combined) truck sales and sport car sales. Their focusing on areas they can dominate instead of diluting resources. They definitely are leading when compared to ford in truck design and inovation in sports cars. (corvette) they are also the OEM that is pushing powertrain development the farthest (3.0 duramax, 6th gen small block) today with Toyota/Ram/Ford basically stagnant and VW group disbanding their powertrain department while attempting to go all electric. GM is set up really well for the next decade, and they could dominate if Mary would let their design teams go and win.
Def not true. There’s far more foreign brand automakers that are anything but Innovative & class leading in design / engineering/ technology. Facts. GM has some excellent vehicles out last 5yrs including there large trucks/ SUVs, Cadillac SUV lineup / Malibu sedan/ Buick lineup & of course its world class C8 Corvette Stingray. We have a newer XT5 Caddy SUV & love it. Im more a Ford guy in every way & drive ’22 Edge ST AWD daily.. but GF absolutely loves her XT5 over a previous lackluster Acura SUV she owned.
Let’s face it. GM is a loser. This week, I took my 2022 Equinox in for service. I inquired about a new Blazer. Answer, we can’t get them as well as a few other products. But my sales guy ( a joke between us for a while) told me not to forget it’s Truck Month (AGAIN)!!!!
Their lot was full of KOREAN/CHINESE vehicles (BUICKS)!
I say in five years GM won’t be around.
I got a 2020 Equinox with the 2.0 turbo motor and we love it.
Everyone i know w/ newer Equinox says same! It’s very popular for good reason. Enjoy.
BUICK is Chinese!? Huh? Buick sales are way up & deservedly so. GM has some great new products. I would’ve simply went to another better dealer to get the new Blazer. Its outstanding. I prefer my ’22 Edge ST AWD (my 2nd Edge..excellent SUVs) myself but def considered a new Blazer. They were hard to get in late ’22.
5 y ears really? They are making the right moves and are in a much better position than Ford of Fiat, but you keep on thinking that…
Worst in class? Its power is on par HP wise with the base gas offerings and it has a ton more torque. It does well in MPG, it is far from worst in class. It is a good little motor doing exactly what it needs to do to the type of people who buy it…
Where’s the GM Wrangler/Bronco?
Don’t say Trailblazer, it’s another boring soccer crossover.
Better design & tech then the foreign vehicles in its class though. Ppl seem to love it.
You mean to tell me that you don’t approve of the Gatorade hauling, soccer mom piloted CUV that is the new Blazer? (face palm) 🙁
They need to bring the Chevrolet Montana to the US market. They have been building them since 2003.
They need to bring the Chevrolet Montana to the US market. They have been building them since 2003. I need a Luv pick up!
Give e a el Camino!
GM brings the blazer nameplate back as a cuv. Ford brings the bronco back as a proper off road vehicle. Ford releases the f150 lightening, a somewhat affordable EV truck while GM releases that ridiculously expensive hummer that only the rich can afford. Ford brings the smash hit maverick and GM has no answers. What the heck is going on at GM?
They’re busy cutting costs.
Motor1 Argentina claims that the Mexico-built Rsm pickup truck will be a new Dskota, and not the Rampage
Bring the Montana stateside GM, you’re leaving money on the table.
Chevy also builds the S10 in South America. It is also American so sell it locally.
Where is my 23 colorado. Still waiting.
It’s hot class of vehicle right now. Colorado is sweet. You check w/your dealer? Waited for a ’21 Ranger Tremor nearly 6mos but things were much worse *supply chain* wise bk then. Love the Ranger! Very sweet powertrain.
Profitability. Being late to a party of bargain priced pickups could end up being a distraction to other ventures promising higher profits.
How are any of those trucks more compact then a Colorado ??
Notice how Toyota, Honda, and Nissan have no compact trucks either… GM has historically been the last to come to market the el Camino came after the ranchero, the Camaro came after the mustang, the big thunderbird came before the Rivera, and the original F150 came before GM had an on road performance truck .
The Montana, while very good looking would be a loser in that segment in North America. It simply doesn’t have enough capabilities. To rock that segment, you need awd available, and the ability to tow 3000 lbs and carry 1000 lbs. That would allow an owner to haul a half ton of wood pellets or tow a ton with the weight of a trailer. A midgate option and fold flat front seat would be awesome, thus allowing longer items to be hauled .
The next car or truck will be a ev so I don’t think Mary will ever bring back compact truck to United States . The Camaro is gone . Slow but surely gmc headed to all ev
I want to know why they haven’t slapped a boosted LS in a canyon and called it a cyclone
Because they are headed towards ev only direction
NOT true. There’s a balance & all the Big6 realize this! New gen hybrids are coming by Ford Motor ..along w/ EVs. I’m sure GM is on same track. Thank the administration you did or did not vote for! The EV push has been coming for awhile.
LOVE Ford & GM. Can’t stomach any other automakers designs/ tech/ powertrains. Totally outdated or behind the curve in every way!
I love my Bolt. All the knuckleheads like you that have never driven one only have one mindset. You hate what you don’t understand. Educate yourself and learn to expand your boundaries.
“completely under-called the demand for Mavericks.”
Right, the entire planet wanted a Ranger replacement (not the 50k+ new “Ranger”) and you …didn’t listen. No one was surprised at the Mavericks success except Ford. I didn’t see the same love for the S-10 when it was cut.
How can any automaker anticipate the popularity of a new model? Kudos to Ford Motor for the excellent new Maverick small truck.. i say. Its well built, has proven hybrid & gen2 GTDI powertrain etc. Even a Tremor off rd edition! Ranger is fantastic as well & if ya spec yourself/ order it ..can get nicely equipped 4wd truck w/ best powertrain/ tech (reviews all say) for under $40k. Btw, Maverick was fastest selling vehicle of ’22 & deservedly so.
“How can any automaker anticipate the popularity of a new model?”
Actually that’s a big part of the product planing process. Do the market research, derive the customer interest in the product, base your business case on forecasted demand, sell it to management, find plant capacity, develop the product, tool up for the forecasted demand, let the suppliers know what numbers they need to hit, let er rip.
Translating the research into forecasted demand appears tricky but there are well established processes for that so it’s not really that hard.
Farley has a product planning background. I’m surprised they short forecasted so badly.
Still have my 95 S 10 I’d buy it again
Come on man… they cheapen the Malibu so no-one wants it. And they’d don’t want the Montana here. Why?? Because it does not fit into their woke electric agenda. Simple as that.
Woke this!
Nothing CHEAP bout the Malibu. Its nice sedan for the class it competes in. Far sportier & sleeker than any Hyundai or Nissan. Proven, efficient engine offerings as well! I’d buy one in a heartbeat .. but usually gravitate towards SUVs or 4wd trucks. The Malibu sales are increasing an I can see why.