Ram and Stellantis confirm the Ram 1500 Ramcharger will launch first as slowing EV truck demand pushes the REV 1500 into 2026.
Ram confirmed its once again delaying the REV but it’s also launching the Ramcharger variant first.
Ram is facing challenges as the truck brand struggles with sliding sales and rapidly changing conditions including the sudden resignation of Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares and some of the immediate chaos left after his departure. One immediate item of business is its long overdue EV pickup, the Ram 1500 REV. The REV was already the subject of a delay in November which pushed the trucks launch back by several months angering early reservation holders.
These same reservation holders are now being asked to exercise their patience once again with Ram not only confirming that the REV has been delayed once again, but that the Ramcharger model will also be launched first as Stellantis shifts its broader EV strategy.
Ram REV pushed back
Former CEO Carlos Tavares was counting on the launch of new products, such as the Ram 1500 REV, to help revive Stellantis’s fortunes in 2025.
Ram’s announcement didn’t reveal an exact timeframe for when the REV 1500 will launch but it’s now known that the EV will launch in 2026. This delay is in response to sluggish demand that has been observed across the broader segment with rival Ford also contending with sluggish demand for the F-150 Lightning. However, the delay also means that the brand is now forced to continue being a spectator in the EV truck market while also losing ground to established entries like the Rivian R1T.
While this news is bound to anger some deposit holders, the flip side is that the REV’s latest delay will allow the Ramcharger to launch first. Unlike the REV, the Ramcharger is an extended-range EV with the truck featuring a V6 engine which serves as a generator to help charge the 92-kWh battery pack. Dual electric motors give the truck standard all-wheel drive and allow it to produce a combined 663 hp and 610 lb-ft of torque with overall range going up to 690 miles when the V6 engine is added in. This range-extended model could also help Ram build some ground in sales with the truck appealing to buyers who want an extra layer of security and confidence when they are out on long road trips.
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News comes amid shakeup
The altered timetable comes as Ram struggles to overcome several key problems.
This latest news comes as the Ram brand attempts to right the ship. Stellantis recently brought formerly retired executive Tim Kuniskis back to lead the brand with the exec flat out admitting that Ram was getting its “ass kicked” in sales with those figures being down 24% for the year. Part of the problem came from a botched rollout of the redesigned Ram 1500 with Stellantis putting a high focus on expensive luxury models which left many mainstream buyers priced out.
It remains to be seen if the Hemi V8 will make its return to the Ram lineup. The iconic albeit aging V8 was axed by Stellantis with former CEO Carlos Tavares saying that it was needed to help increase fuel economy. However, the engine was also a strong seller and was a popular choice for many buyers looking for a balance of towing and power. A turbocharged inline-six was supposed to replace the Hemi but while it’s a powerful engine in its own right, some customers say it’s a poor replacement for the engine.
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