Ram's Electric Truck Is Dead
Ram unveiled its competitor to the Chevrolet Silverado EV and Ford F-150 Lightning—the Ram 1500 REV—at the 2023 New York Auto Show. Originally slated to launch last year as the company’s first fully electric truck, Ram has now officially canceled the project.
In a statement released earlier today, Ram announced it will "discontinue development" of the fully electric pickup. However, the "REV" name will live on, as the company is rebranding its hybrid Range-Extended Electric Vehicle (REEV), the Ramcharger, as the new Ram 1500 REV.
The statement said:
'As demand for full-size battery-electric trucks slows in North America, Stellantis is reassessing its product strategy and will discontinue development of a full-size BEV pickup.'
Ram originally planned to launch its electric 1500 in 2024, but in May, the company announced a delay to 2026 as the company shifted focus to the Ramcharger hybrid.
In the meantime, Ram has brought back the Hemi V-8 engine in the 1500 pickup. New CEO Tim Kuniskis admitted it was a mistake to drop the fan-favorite powertrain. "We screwed up," Kuniskis told reporters. The return of the V-8 has already proven to be a hit with buyers.
Ram is the latest of many automakers to scale back EV ambitions. Audi has reportedly canceled production of the upcoming RS6 EV, Honda has scrapped its large electric SUV, and Lamborghini is reportedly reconsidering its long-awaited EV program.
