2014 Ram 3500 Longhorn on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Ram Firefighter Edition launches new 'Built to Serve' trucks

Turns out the "fifth and final" model in Ram's "Built to Serve" series wasn't so final after all. The truckmaker is launching its second round of special-edition trucks with the vehicle you see here, which honors firefighters. Other trucks in this series will give the nod toward police officers and emergency medical service providers. "After honoring each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces with our initial ‘Built to ServeÂ’ models, we felt it would be equally important to also extend our gratitude to all first responders who serve or have served our communities," Mike Koval Jr., Ram Brand Chief Executive Officer, said in a statement. "Whether a first responder or civilian, Ram truck owners are very familiar with this adage as itÂ’s something we strive to build into every truck and van we produce." The fiery Redline and smoky Diamond Black exterior colors and black interior with orange accent stitching certainly fits with the firefighting theme. And the body-color wheel flares, blacked-out grille, bumpers, and lighting elements stand out well against the bright paint. Velcro patches on the seats allow owners to affix their own patches for personalization. A handy holdover from military-themed trucks is the Pouch Attachment Ladder System/Modular Lightweight Load-bearing Equipment (PALS/MOLLE) webbing that allows the attachment of equipment or pouches. Besides the interior and exterior customizations, each Built to Serve truck comes fully equipped with Ram's 4x4 Off-Road Group. They get all-terrain tires, an electronic locking rear axle, hill-descent control, skid plates for the front suspension, steering gear, fuel tank and transfer case,  tow hooks and uniquely calibrated shocks front and rear. This round of Built to Serve packages are available on Ram 1500 Big Horn models. Any body style or powertrain can be specified, with a starting price of $48,420 including destination. We expect to see previews of the other two Built to Serve first responder trucks before they go on sale this spring. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Ram establishes new commercial truck division

To better go after the work truck market that its rivals Ford and General Motors have dominated for some time, the Ram Truck brand of Chrysler is starting a new sub-line of work vehicles called Ram Commercial. Rather than carrying the full Ram Commercial name, each model in the new lineup would wear the Tradesman trim level, which means that the Ram 1500 Tradesman is disappearing for retail buyers only and will still be available for commercial or fleet buyers.
The Ram Commercial lineup will consist of current products like the Ram 1500 Tradesman, Ram Heavy Duty Tradesman pickups and chassis cab trucks, and the Ram C/V Tradesman cargo van, but it will also be adding a new full-size van called the 2014 Ram ProMaster Tradesman based off the Fiat Ducato. It also looks like Ram Commercial will be getting a smaller van from the Fiat Professional brand to go up against small cargo-friendly vehicles like the Ford Transit Connect and Mini Clubvan, but we can't tell if this new model is based on the Fiat Scudo, Doblo and Florino.
Ram Commercial buyers will also benefit from the BusinessLink and "On The Job" programs. Both programs make it easier for businesses to purchase and maintain their fleets.

Ford, Stellantis workers join those at GM in ratifying contract that ended UAW strikes

DETROIT — The United Auto Workers union overwhelmingly ratified new contracts with Ford and Stellantis, that along with a similar deal with General Motors will raise pay across the industry, force automakers to absorb higher costs and help reshape the auto business as it shifts away from gasoline-fueled vehicles. Workers at Stellantis, the maker of Jeep, Dodge and Ram vehicles, voted 68.8% in favor of the deal. Their approval brought to a close a contentious labor dispute that included name-calling and a series of punishing strikes that imposed high costs on the companies and led to significant gains in pay and benefits for UAW workers. The deal at Stellantis passed by a roughly 10,000 vote margin, with ballot counts ending Saturday afternoon. Workers at Ford voted 69.3% in favor of the pact, which passed with nearly a 15,000-vote margin in balloting that ended early Saturday. Earlier this week, GM workers narrowly approved a similar contract. The agreements, which run through April 2028, will end contentious talks that began last summer and led to six-week-long strikes at all three automakers. Shawn Fain, the pugnacious new UAW leader, had branded the companies enemies of the UAW who were led by overpaid CEOs, declaring the days of union cooperation with the automakers were over. After summerlong negotiations failed to produce a deal, Fain kicked off strikes on Sept. 15 at one assembly plant at each company. The union later extended the strike to parts warehouses and other factories to try to intensify pressure on the automakers until tentative agreements were reached late in October. The new contract agreements were widely seen as a victory for the UAW. The companies agreed to dramatically raise pay for top-scale assembly plant workers, with increases and cost-of-living adjustments that would translate into 33% wage gains. Top assembly plant workers are to receive immediate 11% raises and will earn roughly $42 an hour when the contracts expire in April of 2028. Under the agreements, the automakers also ended many of the multiple tiers of wages they had used to pay different workers. They also agreed in principle to bring new electric-vehicle battery plants into the national union contract. This provision will give the UAW an opportunity to unionize the EV battery plants plants, which will represent a rising share of industry jobs in the years ahead.