1992 Ram D250 on 2040-cars

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Stellantis will enter joint venture with Samsung SDI for EV batteries

SEOUL — South Korean battery maker Samsung SDI Co Ltd and global automaker Stellantis NV have agreed to jointly produce electric vehicle (EV) batteries for the North American market, a person familiar with the matter said on Tuesday. Samsung SDI, an affiliate of South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics, already has EV battery plants in South Korea, China and Hungary, which supply customers such as BMW and Ford. "The two companies (Samsung SDI and Stellantis) have struck a MOU (memorandum of understanding) to produce EV batteries for North America," the person with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. The source spoke of condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. The person said the location of the battery joint venture is under review and will be announced later. In July, Reuters reported that Samsung SDI may build a battery plant in the United States, citing a company source. South Korea's Yonhap news agency earlier reported the two companies plan to build a factory in the United States, citing industry sources. Samsung SDI and Stellantis did not have immediate comment when reached by Reuters. Stellantis on Monday struck a preliminary deal with battery maker South Korea's LG Energy Solution (LGES) to produce battery cells and modules for North America. Shares of Samsung SDI were up 2.6% as of 0300 GMT, versus a 0.6% rise in the KOSPI benchmark index. Related video: Green Alfa Romeo Chrysler Dodge Ferrari Fiat Jeep Maserati RAM Citroen Lancia Opel Peugeot Vauxhall

FCA delays Grand Wagoneer and next-generation heavy-duty Ram trucks

The upcoming Jeep Grand Wagoneer has had a tumultuous gestation thus far. At one point it was essentially confirmed, but later it was rumored to have been cancelled. In that context, the latest report from Automotive News is something of a mixed blessing. According to the publication, the Grand Wagoneer has simply been delayed, as has the next-generation Ram heavy duty truck line. This does not seem to affect the fully redesigned Ram 1500, which was previously reported to have been pushed back slightly to 2019. Automotive News says the information came from unnamed sources at the company. Nothing was said about how long the vehicles would be delayed. The publication also conjectures that FCA is delaying the models to save some money to help cover the company's $7 billion of debt , since re-tooling both the heavy-duty truck plant and eventual Grand Wagoneer plant will be expensive. View 6 Photos We reached out to Chrysler for more information on the subject, but the company wouldn't comment on the report. Even so, we wouldn't be too surprised if FCA is indeed delaying these products. The company has delayed a number of vehicles in recent years. In fact nearly every major FCA truck and SUV, including the Grand Wagoneer and Ram line, were delayed about a year and a half ago. We certainly hope the company doesn't delay the Grand Wagoneer for too long, since it's possible it will have a price tag of over $130,000. The profit margins on an SUV with that kind of MSRP would go a long way to helping to pay down the company's debt. Related Video:

2019 Ram 1500 North Edition is bundled up for winter

The 2019 Ram 1500 North Edition combines a host of features into a special edition meant to keep the abominable winter at bay. Based on the Big Horn trim, which sits just above the base Tradesman, Ram says the North Edition is "geared toward truck owners who need more capability and warmth on their frozen drive." The means 4x4 only, with your choice of crew cab or quad cab, 5'7" bed or 6'4" bed, and either the 3.6-liter Pentastar eTorque or or the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 with or without eTorque. To that canvas, Ram adds some of the features from the Off-Road package, including heavy duty shocks with a one-inch lift, locking rear axle, and tow hooks. Weapons against the cold include an engine block heater, and Level 2 Package options like heated seats and steering wheel, heated and folding mirrors, and remote start for pre-warming the cabin. There are individual extras, like the 12-way power driver's seat with four-way lumbar support, instead of the eight-way seat normally part of the Level 2 package. Snow service-rated, three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) Falken LT tires toil outside to keep the rubber on the road; the standard Off-Road package uses Falken All-Terrains (AT3WA). Mopar floor mats toil inside to keep slush and grime from spoiling a good time. A monochromatic appearance package paints all the exterior trim pieces one hue. One splash of contrast comes with the 4x4 decal along the flanks, the other is what looks like a set of 20-inch, six-spoke wheels. The Ram press release didn't mention the special rims, but on the configurator, when we clicked the 20-Inch x 9.0 Aluminum Chrome-Clad Wheels, we were forced to add the North Edition package. As of writing, the configurator pricing appears to be at odds with the MSRP stated in the press release. Start with the $41,490 Ram 1500 Big Horn 4x4 on the build site, add the North Edition package, and the price shows as $45,285 before a $1,695 destination charge. Ram says the truck is available at dealers now, but lists an MSRP of $45,890 before destination. There's a $605 difference between the two numbers. The build site doesn't pre-select the 20-inch wheels with the North Edition package, though. Normally a $1,595 option, adding the wheels to the build raises the price by $200, to $45,285, leaving a $405 difference. Point being, assume the dealer will start the bargaining with the $45,890 price.