History of Ram Trucks in Timeline
Ram Trucks, an American brand of light to mid-weight pickup and heavy-duty trucks and commercial vehicles, is a division of Stellantis. Established as a spin-off from Dodge in 2010, it adopted the name of the existing Ram pickup line. The Ram logo was originally Dodge's. The Ram 1500 "Classic" was produced at Warren Truck Assembly (Michigan) and the Saltillo plant (Coahuila, Mexico) until 2024. The newer Ram 1500 series is manufactured at Sterling Heights Assembly (Michigan). The brand's slogan is "Guts. Glory. Ram."
1927: Dodge Trucks Sold Under Graham Name
During 1927 and 1928, Dodge trucks were sold under the Graham name due to Graham holding the marketing rights.
1928: Dodge Trucks Sold Under Graham Name
During 1927 and 1928, Dodge trucks were sold under the Graham name due to Graham holding the marketing rights.
2008: Daimler Ends Production of Dodge Sprinter
Daimler ceased production of the Dodge Sprinter in 2008, leaving a gap in the market that Ram Trucks later aimed to fill.
June 2009: Chrysler's Post-Bankruptcy Restructuring
In June 2009, after emerging from bankruptcy, Chrysler Group LLC saw Fiat Group acquire a 20% stake. Sergio Marchionne became CEO, implementing "World Class Manufacturing" and separating brands like Ram, Jeep, Dodge, SRT, and Chrysler to solidify their individual identities.
2010: Ram Trucks becomes a division of Chrysler
In 2010, Ram Trucks was spun off from Dodge to become a separate division of Chrysler, focusing on customers who prioritize functionality over style and image.
2010: Ram Trucks brand is established
The Ram Trucks brand was established as a division of Chrysler in 2010, spinning off from Dodge. The brand's focus is on "real truck customers" emphasizing functionality over style.
July 21, 2011: Fiat Increases Stake in Chrysler
On July 21, 2011, Fiat acquired the U.S. Treasury's shares in Chrysler, increasing its ownership stake in the company.
April 2013: Leadership Change at Ram Trucks
In April 2013, Fred Diaz transitioned from Ram Trucks to Nissan, and Reid Bigland took over as the new head of Ram Trucks.
January 2014: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Formation
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) was officially formed as a new corporate entity in January 2014.
August 2014: Bigland Leads Alfa Romeo, Hegbloom Heads Ram Trucks
Reid Bigland, CEO of Ram Trucks, took on leadership of Alfa Romeo in North America in August 2014. Robert Hegbloom, a long-time Chrysler employee since 1986, became the new head of Ram Trucks.
2014: Ram Trucks Sales Goal
Ram Trucks set a sales goal of increasing sales to 415,000 by 2014, up from 280,000.
February 4, 2018: Controversial Super Bowl Ad
Ram Trucks aired a controversial Super Bowl LII commercial on February 4, 2018, featuring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s sermon "The Drum Major Instinct." The ad was widely criticized for using King's words, particularly his condemnation of advertising, to promote the Ram Trucks brand.
October 2018: Bigland Returns, Discovers Sales Misreporting
Reid Bigland returned as CEO of Ram Trucks in October 2018 and uncovered misreported sales figures, leading to an investigation.
March 2020: Bigland Resigns
Reid Bigland resigned from his position as CEO of Ram Trucks in March 2020 following a whistleblower lawsuit against Fiat Chrysler related to sales misreporting and alleged retaliation.
2021: Stellantis is Formed
Stellantis was formed in 2021 through the merger of Fiat Chrysler and the French PSA Group.
2024: Ram 1500 "Classic" Production Ends
Production of the Ram 1500 "Classic" trucks at Warren Truck Assembly and the Saltillo plant ended after the 2024 model year.