RAM US Made Again

[Cummins12V98]

Fiat Chrysler said Sunday it would spend $1 billion on U.S. manufacturing, including modernizing plants in Michigan and Ohio, in a move that’s set to add 2,000 new jobs, Reuters reported.
According to the company’s plan, the plant in Warren, Michigan will be made capable of producing a pickup truck currently built in Mexico.

2019 LongHorn Dually Anniversary Edition here we come!

Naw, Trump has no effect on US Manufacturing!

 

[Newsa]

I will be happy to pay $100k for a $80k truck if I know it's made in the US.

 

[RustyJC]

Does anyone remember the quality of the St. Louis trucks versus the Saltillo trucks? If production of the heavy duty Rams moves back to the United States, I hope they maintain the quality of the Saltillo-built trucks.

Rusty

 

[gsbrockman]

Fiat Chrysler said Sunday it would spend $1 billion on U.S. manufacturing, including modernizing plants in Michigan and Ohio, in a move that’s set to add 2,000 new jobs, Reuters reported.
According to the company’s plan, the plant in Warren, Michigan will be made capable of producing a pickup truck currently built in Mexico.

2019 LongHorn Dually Anniversary Edition here we come!

Naw, Trump has no effect on US Manufacturing!

This was brought up on another forum---and this was my reply :
I wonder if the Warren plant is an additional plant for RAM pickups based on projected sales increases......or is the Warren plant a replacement plant for Saltillo???

I actually believe it's for additional capacity---especially since it's also producing the Jeep products mentioned.

Either way---it is great news!!!

Does anyone remember the quality of the St. Louis trucks versus the Saltillo trucks? If production of the heavy duty Rams moves back to the United States, I hope they maintain the quality of the Saltillo-built trucks.

Rusty

I had a 2000 RAM 2500 Quad Cab 4x4 CTD........it was built in St. Louis and the quality & fit and finish were great......at least on mine.
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[SnoKing]

I will be happy to pay $100k for a $80k truck if I know it's made in the US.

Yeah, RAM can leapfrog FORD to have the highest priced truck. That should help sales a lot. Not sure on my 93, but the 2001.5 and the new 15 are Taco Trucks. SNOKING

 

[BigPapa]

I will be happy to pay $100k for a $80k truck if I know it's made in the US.

Right.....


How many buyers do you know that are going to pay 25% more for an $80K truck on that reason alone? That's why the plant went to Mexico in the first place. For this to work they're going to have to build them here and sell them for the same price as the one's they build there.

 

[RustyJC]

I had a 2000 RAM 2500 Quad Cab 4x4 CTD........it was built in St. Louis and the quality & fit and finish were great......at least on mine.
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You were fortunate. Polls taken here on the TDR forums back in the early 2000s were pretty clear that the Saltillo trucks had fewer assembly problems. My 2002 3500 was a Mexican truck and was one of the best built vehicles I've owned.

I think it's fine if FCA want to produce trucks in Michigan - IF they can hold the build quality.

Rusty

 

[gsbrockman]

You were fortunate. Polls taken here on the TDR forums back in the early 2000s were pretty clear that the Saltillo trucks had fewer assembly problems. My 2002 3500 was a Mexican truck and was one of the best built vehicles I've owned.

I think it's fine if FCA want to produce trucks in Michigan - IF they can hold the build quality.

Rusty

Perhaps I was fortunate.....or it was built on a good shift.
Given the changes in manufacturing since we both both purchased 2nd GENS (about 15 to 17 years ago) I'm confident RAM will have great build quality.

 

[Newsa]

I think, generally, US made products are as high of quality as products made in Mexico, Canada, and other Continents. That may not have been true in the past. But US manufacturing (what little that is left) has improved. Cummins is made here, why not the whole truck? A friend of mine (she was raised in upstate Michigan and went to school in Michigan) bought a used super duty because Ford (the company) did not totally abandon Detroit. She needed a truck when she moved her horse to Montana.
My concern is inflation.... (Since I am expecting to retire in 6 years.) But it may be that I will not be able to retire and will have to work the rest of my life.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I discussed the quality of US vs. Mexico builds with a Tech Advisor. He said the comparison where the US assembly was not as good is not a fair comparison, because the St. Louis plant was very old and it was harder to build the trucks well there.

 

[Sleeper1]

This was part of the FCA/UAW Contract agreement and one of the main reasons the contract was rejected the first time. This was news almost a year ago. The only new info is that they will build a Jeep Truck, build it in Toledo and how much money they will invest in Warren.

 

[RustyJC]

I discussed the quality of US vs. Mexico builds with a Tech Advisor. He said the comparison where the US assembly was not as good is not a fair comparison, because the St. Louis plant was very old and it was harder to build the trucks well there.

Joe, with all respect, I retired last January after 42+ years with a manufacturer of oil and gas equipment. That's what we called a "family problem". It's irrelevant to the consumer. All the consumer sees is the product with our name on it, and he/she doesn't really care about our internal problems in producing it. If some were good and some not so good and the consumer sees the difference, then it's not unfair to call out the manufacturer on it.

Rusty

 

[KCJackson1]

You were fortunate. Polls taken here on the TDR forums back in the early 2000s were pretty clear that the Saltillo trucks had fewer assembly problems. My 2002 3500 was a Mexican truck and was one of the best built vehicles I've owned.

I think it's fine if FCA want to produce trucks in Michigan - IF they can hold the build quality.

Rusty

Both my Rams spoke/speak Spanish... the 96 from Lago Alberto, the 05 from Saltillo. No question the most solidly built trucks I've owned. I previously had F-series from Kansas City and they both left something to be desired. The 93 Ford even had a "Ford-UAW Quality is Job 1" sticker in the rear window, and after the first year, I would all but laugh at it whenever I looked at it. Part of me wanted to scrape it off, but then I decided to leave it for the irony.

 

[RUSSELL5000]

My 2012 was first venture into pickup truck world. I was very, very surprised to see that the general consensus on this forum was that the trucks produced in Mexico took a step up in quality. Note that that I said "general consensus" - opinions varied, but that seemed to be the bottom line of the many threads I reviewed.

The manufacturer must ensure quality at a competitive price regardless of where produced. As an example, consider trailer tires. There are endless threads in the hauling sub-forum here and on the RV forums regarding "China bomb" trailer tires. Yet, you will find many threads recommending Sailun trailer tires. In addition, I noticed that my Cummins filters are marked with "made in China." To the other point, as someone pointed out above, you are not going to be selling a lot of trucks if they cost $100,000 and your competition can offer a reasonably effective substitute at $80,000 (one of the reasons I bought my 2012 Ram rather than a Ford was price).

Obviously, any employment and jobs is good news and I certainly applaud. I am rather disappointed that there seems to be some type of belief arising that if manufacturing jobs are "returning" then happy days are here again. We need to be making plans, developing strategies, and putting policy in place which recognizes there are going to be progressively fewer manufacturing jobs in the future and that those jobs will not pay as well in terms of real wages as they did in the past even when the product is manufactured in the United States.

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

This reminds me of the Michael Keaton movie, Gung Ho. Different, but similarities with quality control.

 

[TFucili]

Does anyone remember the quality of the St. Louis trucks versus the Saltillo trucks? If production of the heavy duty Rams moves back to the United States, I hope they maintain the quality of the Saltillo-built trucks.

Rusty

My buddy is a retired MOPAR engineer, and the Saltillo trucks consistently had a lower warranty rate than the St Louis trucks. That is a fact.

 

[TCollier]

I read about this in an article this morning. Building the HD trucks that are currently being built in Mexico, the Jeep P/U. I'm most interested in the other part of a full size SUV. A Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer. I hope these are true full size. And I hope the difference between the Grand and straight Wagoneer is more of a trim / option thing then a whole different vehicle like the Grand Cherokee and Cherokee.

 

[EDankievitch]

I'm all for things being built in America. Companys have No choice but to build quality products today. If you don't you're out of business and will not be missed. As for the cost... The profit margin on most trucks and SUV's is way over 50%. Why is that Because WE WANT THEM! Do you really think that Hell Cat Challanger cost what they were selling for? The time is now to show the world that we Americans Home of the smartist most innovative people in the world can step up and build a quality product at a fair price. On another thought how many Skilled Blue Collar workers could be paid with the money that was ****** away in those Profit Sharing Checks that those CEO's cash in each year.... Don't get me started....

 

[mwilson]

My Mexican built '06 was flawless, I went over that thing with a fine tooth comb before I would buy it new. Wiring, lines, everything clipped and tied as it was meant to be. Fit and finish of the doors and hood??? Perfect.
Paint was flawless as well.

At 146,000 miles I'm getting a little wind noise at the top of the drivers door which I suspect is a result of the door hinges wearing out a bit. Other than that it's still tight as a drum.

The Saltillo plant jobs are highly sought after and if someone doesn't do their job there are more people outside waiting for a job that will do it. Daimler has a truck plant in Mexico and that is the same way from what I understand. Everything that the employees need is there including medical clinics. It will be a hard act to duplicate here in the US.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Does anyone remember the quality of the St. Louis trucks versus the Saltillo trucks? If production of the heavy duty Rams moves back to the United States, I hope they maintain the quality of the Saltillo-built trucks.

Rusty

Both of my 98's were made in St Louis I was VERY impressed with the quality of both.