No more "Dodge" RAM just RAM

[VolCTD]

Ram Nameplate Will Become a Full Brand



LONDON — Chrysler Group is likely to promote its Dodge Ram nameplate to a full brand, which will sell pickup trucks, vans and some SUVs as a marque in its own right, Inside Line has been told.



Chrysler is also likely to withdraw the Dodge brand from Europe, where it was launched in 2006. The changes are part of a new product and brand strategy being developed with Fiat, according to an insider familiar with the subject.



Fiat will announce its plans for the Chrysler Group in mid-November in Detroit.



Relaunching Ram as a full brand will free the Dodge line-up of commercial vehicles, and allow it to develop as an affordable performance-car brand that will share some product development initiatives with Alfa Romeo.



Dodge is likely to be dropped from the Chrysler Group's European line-up despite having been launched as recently as 2006 as part of a three-pronged strategy to increase the group's sales using all three brands.

 

[FDavid]

Sound like they are doing what GM has done with GMC. But now the question is what will they call the pickup? The Ram Ram?:-laf

 

[mwilson]

Dam Ram????:-laf

 

[2Rowdy]

How do you say ram in Italian.

 

[Grizzly]

It would be huge mistake to drop the name Dodge. The Dodge name has been around since our great grandfathers.

 

[rbattelle]

I'll believe this when I see it. I don't see spinning Ram off as a separate division as a sound business decision. My understanding is that Dodge and Jeep were the two most profitable bits of Chrysler. Separating Dodge into a car division and a Ram division would likely spell doom for both.



Neither the car side nor the truck side sell enough vehicles to be viable as a stand alone company for very long. Together, they do well.



At least, that's my opinion. I could be wrong. In any case, I don't think any of this is good for availability of legacy parts and repair.



Ryan

 

[steved]

Ryan:

How I read that is the "Ram" would be commercial... and Fiat might be thinking this would be an avenue to rebadge its current line and increase sales?

 

[Matt400]

Dam Ram????:-laf

Dam Ram is the Man says Sam I Am!! :-laf

 

[mwilson]

Nice!:-laf

 

[mickeyblueyes]

My Father was born in 1918 his father was born about 1885 and his father was born about 1800. You sure it s been around THAT long????????????

 

[Jefff929]

My Father was born in 1918 his father was born about 1885 and his father was born about 1800. You sure it s been around THAT long????????????

Most Italians breed faster than that... just saying, all of them I know brag about it anyway.

 

[DaveHess]

How do you say ram in Italian.

Ram :-laf



Sorry 2Rowdy. Couldn't resist.

 

[ddutil]

I guess Ariete would be the right Italian translation, in this case.



See: Ariete - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[VolCTD]

Well the rumor has come to pass looks like...



Chrysler Announces New Exec Appointments and Separation of Dodge Brands (The Torque Report)

 

[rbattelle]

I really think this is a bad idea, if it actually happens (I remain skeptical). I don't see Dodge surviving split in two. But then, I'm no businessman.

Ryan

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

They don't say anything there about it just being "RAM". They talk about "Dodge RAM" brand. Looks like their just seperating the truck line from the car line. This looks to be a good thing to me because the trucks are probably more profitable than the cars and won't get dragged down in reports by the car lines.

 

['strokeThis_'07]

They don't say anything there about it just being "RAM". They talk about "Dodge RAM" brand. Looks like their just seperating the truck line from the car line. This looks to be a good thing to me because the trucks are probably more profitable than the cars and won't get dragged down in reports by the car lines.

Exactly my thinking. The trucks are the most successful part of Dodge. So why not seperate them, then focus on each unit as their own. Keep doing with the trucks what theyve been doing, and do a huge revamp of the cars. Ive heard they want Dodge as a sporty brand, and moving Chrysler more upscale. I completely agree. Do with chrysler what GM has done with Cadillac and go after the European/Asian offerings in the luxury/sport group. Cadillac can go head-to-head with any offering from BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, Jaguar, etc. Why not include Chrysler in that battle??



And Dodge cars can go up against the domestic offerings from Ford, Chevy, Toyota, Nissan, Honda. You have your passenger car in the Charger, the muscle in the Challenger. The LX platform cars are already pretty good; with some tweaking and tuning, theres absolutely no reason they cant go up against the others.



Question is... what becomes of the Viper? It was axed, but I read recently that Sergio Marchionne is reversing that. So... keep it a Dodge and go after the Vette, or do you brand it a Chrysler or Lancia or whatever else, and go for worldwide domination? My vote goes for keeping it Dodge, and going worldwide domination. Its already a contender, but it NEEDS to go on a diet... just my opinions.

 

[Matt400]

Exactly my thinking. The trucks are the most successful part of Dodge.

Why do you say that?

I recently took a 2300 mile road trip and saw 3 times as many Chargers than I did pick-ups and thats just one model compared to an entire line.

A quick look at stats on Dodge Charger Forums shows

Threads: 111,311, Posts: 1,848,927, Members: 35,287

 

[rbattelle]

Ive heard they want Dodge as a sporty brand, and moving Chrysler more upscale. I completely agree.

I don't know about that. Dodge as a sporty brand I can see, but I'm not sure about moving Chrysler upscale. Seems like they've already been trying that, but it's not working. Case in point: the Aspen. Looks like a beautiful vehicle, and I'd be happy to drive one. Hardly ever see any of them on the road, and they've stopped making them.



Honestly, I don't see Chrysler as a brand surviving much longer, and I fear pushing them upscale would kill them even faster. They're down to 4 vehicles: PT Cruiser, 300, Sebring, and the minivan. Seems like the writing is on the wall.



It's all speculation, of course. The way forward will be plotted by businessmen who are, hopefully, much smarter than we are.



Ryan

 

[bucket1]

hey i gotta 2011 badabing with the 6. 7 cummins