Fiat Chrysler CEO Claims Ram Will Introduce Electrified Pickup Truck

author: Vineeth Joel Patel   

Electric pickup trucks are the next big thing for the industry. No one has an all-electric pickup truck on sale at the moment, but quite a few automakers are looking to enter the scene with large, capable vehicles that boast impressive numbers. Take a peek at the all-new GMC Hummer EV – that thing sold out within 10 minutes of being announced and looks like an impressive truck. Ford is also looking to enter the market with an electric F-150 pickup truck, though it has nothing to show for it at the moment. With its two main rivals entering the electric pickup scene, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is on the verge of falling behind.


Ram Entering The Electric Pickup Scene


That won't be the case for long, though. According to a report by the Detroit Free Press, FCA CEO Mike Manley confirmed that Ram is working on an electric pickup truck to take on Ford, General Motors, Rivian, Lordstown Motors, and Rivian. The CEO didn't provide any definitive details beyond stating that the vehicle was in the works. Manley made the announcement during FCA's third-quarter earnings conference call.


"I do see that there will be an electrified Ram pickup in the marketplace, and I would ask you just to stay tuned for a little while, and we'll tell you exactly when that will be," said Manley. As the outlet points out, FCA is clearly under pressure to get some kind of electric offering in its pickup truck line, which is something other rivals have already done. While Manley's statements don't provide a lot of information on the vehicle, it's more specific than what the CEO stated three months ago.


"Obviously, pickup trucks is a key franchise for us, and we're not going to sit on the sideline if there is a danger that our position gets diluted going forward," Manley said during the automaker's second-quarter earnings call.


Ram Can't Fall Behind


Manley's announcement came at an interesting time, hot off the heels of GMC's introduction of the Hummer EV pickup truck. Clearly, FCA saw just how much attention the new Hummer EV received and surely saw the response Tesla received for the Cybertruck. It would be disastrous for Ram to fall behind in a lucrative venture. Additionally, falling behind in the electric-vehicle scene greatly puts automakers on he back foot. Tesla is the only automaker that really went all-in on EVs and is now handily in the lead when it comes to range.


Also, there's California's move to stop selling new gasoline-powered vehicles in the state by 2035. While radical, it's something other states have also started to think about instituting. It's all to meet emissions and fuel economy regulations, and is forcing automakers' hands into developing electrified powertrains.


Interestingly, Manley didn't confirm an electric pickup truck was coming. Choosing his words carefully, like any other CEO would, Manley stated that Ram would come out with an electrified pickup truck. That could mean a plug-in hybrid or a regular hybrid and not a fully-electric vehicle. We're just going to have to wait to see what Ram has in store for the market, but it's going to have to aim for 2022 if it wants to be on the same plan as other automakers.

Vineeth Joel Patel

Joel Patel has been covering all aspects of the automotive industry for four years as an editor and freelance writer for various websites. When it comes to cars, he enjoys covering the merger between technology and cars. In his spare time, Joel likes to watch baseball, work on his car, and try new foods