All Entries Tagged With: "ram"
Chrysler’s Future Still Uncertain – Would You Buy A Hyundai-Made Ram?
Despite receiving a massive bailout from U.S. and Canadian taxpayers, the long-term future of Chrysler-Fiat is still up in the air. According to Steve Rattner, the former Obama administration “car czar” who orchestrated the Chrysler bailout package, there were serious misgivings about Chrysler’s future by many in the Obama administration in 2009. Rattner’s book Overhaul indicates that Chrysler was bailed-out more to prevent job losses than based on any certainty that Chrysler could remain a viable automaker.
As reported recently by the Detroit News, financial analysts at international mega-lender Deutsche Bank echo these same concerns. While Chrysler has generated operating profits in the past year, they’re still a money-losing company (nearly half a billion year to date). Deutsche Bank’s analysts believe that Chrysler’s future hinges on new Fiat-based product due out next year – starting with the Fiat 500.
Deutsche Bank's analysts believe the future of Chrysler hinges on new products from Fiat, including the Fiat 500
While a new line of Fiats might just save Chrysler, it’s also possible that they won’t. If Chrysler-Fiat has to throw in the towel, the Ram brand would be made available for sale…something Hyundai might love to see.
The Tundra Is Now America’s “Most American” Pickup
Every year, Cars.com uses domestic content data from NHTSA and automaker-supplied data to pull together a list of the “10 Most American” vehicles. Over the last three years, the Tundra – with 80% domestic parts content – has been on this list.
| 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | |
| Ford F150 Rankings | 1st overall | 1st overall | 2nd overall | N/A |
| Chevy-GMC LD Rankings | 3rd overall | 8th overall | 5th overall | N/A |
| Ram 1500 Rankings | N/A | N/A | N/A | 7th overall* |
| Toyota Tundra Rankings | 10th overall | 5th overall | 7th overall | 8th overall |
* – The Ram 1500 ranking excludes regular cab trucks, which are assembled in Mexico.
On the Cars.com list, the Tundra is now the second-most American truck available…but only if the Ram 1500’s stats exclude regular cab models. If Ram’s “American made” numbers reflected the foreign-built reg cab’s it’s likely that the Tundra would be the only truck in the top 10 most American vehicles. For that reason, it seems clear to us that the Tundra is now officially the Most American truck you can buy.
What do you have to say about that, Ford, GM, and Chrysler-Fiat truck owners? 🙂
