Toyota To Build Next-Generation Dodge Ram
Jason Lancaster | Apr 01, 2009 | Comments 42
The following post was an April Fools prank. Our apologies to any Dodge owners who got excited about buying a quality product! 🙂
Our sources have confirmed that a joint press conference will be held in the next few days announcing that the next generation Dodge Ram will be engineered, designed, and built by Toyota in San Antonio.
In an effort to save cash and stay afloat, Chrysler is sourcing the next generation Dodge Ram from Toyota.
Cost-cutting pressures and the realities of the modern auto industry have hit Chrysler hard. Late last year, Chrysler announced they were selling the Dodge Viper brand. In late January, Chrysler and Fiat announced a merger. Today, Dodge officially leaves the truck business.
This move makes sense for a few reasons:
1) The merger with Fiat doesn’t bring much in the way of truck and SUV knowledge or resources to the table. The Ram is a decent selling model, but it would seem to be outside the core business strengths of the new Chrysler-Fiat (Frysler?) alliance. Outsourcing this project is a good choice.
2) The Tundra plant in San Antonio has the capacity to build 350,000 trucks per year, which is enough to build all the Rams and all the Tundras consumers will want.
3) Toyota has been looking for a way to recover their investment in the Tundra. This new arrangement offers them a quicker path to recovering their multi-million dollar investment in San Antonio.
4) This move will bolster both companies images. People might finally stop complaining about Toyota being a “foreign” automaker (despite their domestic production plants) when Toyota builds the Ram, and consumers might give quality-plagued Dodge a fair chance if one of their products is built by Toyota.
5) Dodge will save a ton of cash. No longer having to design and develop a truck will save Chrysler billions of dollars in capital which is sorely needed to keep the company afloat.
As part of the deal, Toyota will gain access to all of the Dodge Ram’s technology. We’re not sure what the benefit is here to Toyota (what can they do with it?), but who knows.
What do you think – is this good news for Tundra owners?
Filed Under: Auto News
Stay away from the big three, the downside is too great. The Toyota brand reputation can best be maintain with exclusivity.
Happy April Fool’s day!!!
is this sh*t for real ?
From one extreme to another. Not sure how this will turn out.
damn. another good april’s fools joke. How sad is that if it ever happens. I guess this story can be compared to a conquering king. To unite all brands under one brand.
It would not be good news for Toyota, just Dodge if they stay afloat. For toyota to associate with dodge trucks is like comparing apples to oranges. Toyota I don’t think will gain anything from Dodge and will only hurt tundra sales down the line. All toyota needs to do is concentrate in 2010 on fixing the issues previously addressed since 2007 and making them right and will be #1 in truck sales in the near future. Chevy does make a good product and I would probably switch back to them ONLY if they had taken my several dozen e-mail and phone calls on design seriously in the past 5 years and offer a crew cab version with the 6 1/2′ bed like the tundra double cab which was Chevy’s 1500HD truck but with the 5.3L engine and 1/2 ton suspension, not 3/4 ton which rides way too rough unless you need to haul 6,000 lbs. everyday and had the gas guzzling 6.0L engine which was way too slow off the line and got only 13 mpg hwy. driving which sucked. Chevy has a lot of cab configurations out there except the only one that is really needed and would sell the most which is the 1500HD cab and interior but with the more fuel efficient 5.3L engine, 6 1/2′ bed, and 1/2 ton suspension. That is the only truck, in my opinion, that can compete as far as usefulness with the Tundra double cab.
[…] this on for size Can you believe this? Toyota To Build Next-Generation Dodge Ram | Tundra Headquarters . com __________________ MIDNIGHT RIDER 07 Crewmax Limited Nautical Blue For new members […]
This is going to be AWESOME! Dodges looks and ergomomics with Toyotas Quality. Win Win, GM for years used this formula to build there best cars. GEO Prism/ Toyota Corolla, Toyota MAtrix/ Pontiac Vibe.
April Fools everyone. This was just a joke.
shame on you Jason for stirring the pot.
I am still holding onto the dream
MK – My apologies to you and anyone else who I’ve offended. Here’s a story that will take your mind off my trickery – Barack Obama banned Chevy and Chrysler from participating in Nascar.
http://mediamatters.org/static.....0402-2.gif
I knew but forgot to mention in my post, Aprils Fools!
Marko – LOL.
Another Joke ehh Jason…….. That wouldn’t go over well with alot of fans…. But it does give a chuckle.
I have a lot different perspective than most. I bought a 97 dodge ram new and ran it for 11 years putting on 165k brutal miles on it. ANY truck that took the punishment that truck took would have issues, but I can say I was NEVER stranded by the truck and if the ac compressor hadn’t went out I would still be driving it. Imagine my surprise when I went to dodge and they acted like they had gold gems in their lot(and plenty of them). I shot them a resonable price and explained I was paying cash. Three hours later and they never budged. I left the dealer in disgust. I went to toyota and picked out a beautiful 08 dblcb, test drove then shot the salesman the same offer I shot dodge. The salesman said he would have to talk to his boss & see if the offer could be accepted. He came back 5 minutes later, shook my hand & congradulated me on my new TUNDRA. Now I ask, WHICH COMPANY NEEDS A GOVT BAIL OUT?
WOW! I was on the edge of my seat for a minute. It just sounded a bit odd. Great prank. I do agree that Dodge has some aesthetic pleasures Toyota could use but other than that I would stray from it.
You wanna hear a real joke. “On Toyota
Troll,
Your name says it all.
You are smoking a bad batch of crack. Your dealer owes you a refund.
I almost forgot, ya opened this trend bashing Dodge so Jason post the fact. Consumer Guide Auto dot com has a very interesting road test on every vehicle. Lets say a 09 Ram ranked 74 points for a top of the line 4door 5.7l 4X4, 09 F-150 ranked 67 points for a top of the line 4door 5.4l 4X4. Any guess’s where the Tundra ranked, come on you all have jokes. Give up?? A 09 Tundra 4WD CrewMax Limited w/navigation, 5.7 V8 ranked get this, 57 points. But wait theres more, go to you tube and search 09 ram vs tundra, have some tissues ready. You all have jokes, well so doesnt the rest of the world it called a Tundra! Dont worry Suzuki said if Toyota can make a so called full size truck anyone can, so now they are dibbling in the Truck market so it won’t be long and people will focus on them and it will “Tundra, what Tundra”. Have a good day, your friendly neighborhood Troll!
Jeremy the Detail Guy, your right on the refund the dealer said to talk to Toyota directly. Back to washing cars, you missed a spot!
TRoll it’s a matter of opinion and facts mixed for those Consumer guide or Consumer Reports etc. Not to mention the biased views too. Personally don’t give a hoot where the Tundra placed. I’m happy with what I got. Apparently you’re a lost individual who has nothing better to do than cry about his short comings. As for that commercial with the Fords in the background it’s easy for a fool to forget that Toyota people are responsible for their actions so to tow more than the truckcan do is wreckless but we know you have no sight so easy to say what you can. Cry about your handout when you go down in flames.
Troll – Thanks for commenting. I don’t see how Ford trucks being used in the commercials produced for the Tundra are a big deal considering that A) it’s a free country, and the contractors that work for Toyota are free to drive whatever they want; B) the Tundra isn’t available in an HD configuration. If you need a truck that can haul more than the half-ton Tundra, you have to buy one from the Big 3. If it’s any consolation, I would recommend the F-Series SuperDuty any day of the week. As for your points about the Tundra’s score on Consumer Guide’s website (which is ConsumerGuideAuto.HowStuffWorks.com), what are you talking about? Their buying guide for 2009 pickups says “There are no clear winners here, but certain priorities might steer you toward certain vehicles. ” Sure doesn’t sound like the Dodge got all the points and everything came in second.
http%3A%2F%2Fconsumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com%2F2009-large-pickup-truck-buying-guide.htm&title=The+Consumer+Guide+to+2009+Large+Pickup+Trucks
Jason, Long time listener, first time caller. I send my sincere apploigies, I thought it was standup hour. Im a upcoming act under the bridge. I under stand its a free country, and people need to lighten-up. The film and contruction crew had a sense of humor to ensure a Ford was in the Toyota making of the film. Point being if a truck is so good why wouldnt you supply them to the crew making the site, kinda a trial and error period of use them abuse them and get some feed back. One of the best ways R&D can get real world information. Mickey, 10,500 lbs Towing is on the line of entering the HD towing range. If towing within or at the max weight is a issue MAYBE you need to lower the capacity. You do understand one of the reason for the capacity limits is over the life of the vehicle it can sustane that limit for a long life of the vehicle. Oh if safety was a issue Mikey why would Toyota need videos done by stunt drivers with disclaimers. I guess using it for daily use is out of the question, stunt use only right (cliffs, huge hammers). So if safety is a issue clean up your own back yard, before concerning yourself with others. Jason think about the R&D, I think it would benefit your owners in the long run.
Great Idea for the safety that was brought up. Head on collision of a Tundra vs all of the big 3. Three head on collisions, that would be a commercial with some real world benefit for the consumers. Its on the line with the current toyota commercials. Cliffs, hammers and the crazy trailer sway. Oh by the way put it into a sway and see what happens, pulling slow with the fans is like driving across the plains, big deal. Show real trailer sway! Induce it your self and see if your truck can correct it. But the collision commercial idea, I should get paid for that. But wait a minute, bad idea. I forgot, whos the 4 star crash rating. Sorry I will sell it to the big three. Theres your SAFETY Mikey. If you so worried about safety buy a safe vehicle. Now change your story. -Troll
Troll – Good idea on the commercial – I’ll pay, but only if you agree to drive one of the crash testers (I don’t care which one). Thanks for identifying yourself as a troll and saving everyone the hassle of getting mad, btw. No matter what anyone says, you’re not listening. Good work!
Dodge is going to build Toyotas truck in St. Louis right?
Troll you definitely need a day job.
Isnt Toyota having enough issues with their Tundra. Rusting frame, exploding camshafts, tailgates falling off. Recalls out of the wazoo. But i see by the title of this forum that all foreign truck guys envy the dodge ram. Hemi, good looks, an American legend. Tundra will probably go the way of the Titan pretty soon. Toyota is alienating its loyal base with all the quality issues. Ipersonally would stray far away from anything that Toyota makes. Their quality is the worst!!!
Vince must we list everything wrong with your Ram? It seems to me that Diamler the German company knew how bad dealing with Dodge people and got out. So now what do we call it now? A Fiat Ram? Or is it going to be called Ram again. How much more of my money does your company need to get their crap together? I would think you would want to have fixed your backyard first before complaining about someone else’s. Rusting frames is a legitimate one but what is this exploding camshafts? If you refering to the 20 camshaft failures from the very begining and these vehicles never reached the public you need to stretch a little more. Tailgates falling off? I only heard of one guy stating this on this website. Again you are in a dream world to think for once we envy a Hemi. Resale? Towing? Safety? I guess that’s enough or do we have to give you more?
Vince ignore Mickey. He is the village idiot. Here’s some questions about I have for the audience about the Tundra. Q: Why does the check engine light come on within the first month if not week of buying it? Q; what’s the deal with the floormats?Q: Is there epidemic with frame rust at Toyota extending to the Tundra, FJ Crusier, Tacoma? Q: Why do Toyota’s have a oil sludge problem? Q: Can Toyota keep up with domestics volume of production and their set quality standards? I have to answer this on HELL No!! Toyota can even get there quality right now making so little vehicles to keep their resale high. Q: Why do you have to tighten the chassis bolts every 10 or was it 15k, they should not come loose? Q: What’s with the bed bounce? Q; Where is Toyota’s HD series? Q: Why did GM leave Toyota at Nummi. Oh I know this one, Toyota brought down GM’s quality!
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Mickey we have went over these questions before, do we really need to do it again. Just to let you know, Dodge makes more than one size of full size truck so if you want to tow as you where commenting on, you probably don’t want to go their. Oh they probably used Dodge trucks to build the factory to make the Tundra. Safety, Toyota copyrighted the floor mat and frame issue so we can not compete with the for their safety quality, we try not to kill anyone!
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If you have any questions look at the lower right hand side of this page at “Most Commented Posts” there is all the issues you are apparent unaware of.
Vince – You say “Ipersonally would stray far away from anything that Toyota makes. Their quality is the worst!!!” – really?! You must be living under a rock. Only a moron would argue that “anything” Toyota makes is poor quality.
Josh – Why ask questions if you’re not interested in finding the answers? I get it – you hate the Tundra and Toyota in general. Good for you. What’s the point in trolling here if you hate the truck so much?
Because Jason he can’t afford one. We know he stated before he owns a 09 Rock Warrior back on 12/14/09. Yet he hasn’t stated yes or no when asked this question several times. Answer to Joshua there Jason? You hit it right he’s trolling and is pissed off about Toyota. To sit here at this site daily to try and get his message across and finds what ever he can gripe about. He states all the issues he may have found and did he ever have any of these issues? The answer is just a plain NO because he doesn’t own one. Another words there Joshua you’re just a sore loser and is probably that way in life.
Joshua to call other members here the village idiot only proves your message isn’t getting across and you are getting desperate. Go ahead and try again.
Jason, so what did Toyota’s former CEO Katsuaki Watanabe say about the quality of the Tundra, something along the lines of its a disappointment. He must be under the rock with us! So how do you reply to this Jason? Once again start back pedaling, now!
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Mickey, that’s the response to all the questions? I never said I can afford one. I expect what I buy to work and not to be a FADE with FAMOUS recalls! Plus the own CEO says it was a, was it disgrace or disappointment, either way BAD. The whole comment of owning a 09 Rock Warrior is pretty funny, you don’t even understand it was made at the whiny owners (hints you) and not against Toyota. Read it again, didn’t Jason get the sarcasm?
Joshua – There’s no reason to backpedal – re-read Vince’s comments and my response. Vince said that “anything” Toyota makes has the worst quality – obviously silly.
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Also, the whole rock warrior thing… Not sure why you’re wasting everyone’s time. You claim to own a Tundra, then you complain, then you criticize, then you say it was all a sarcastic comment. Whatever. I think you’re a smart guy that can make some good points, but you often act like a child. Disappointing.
Let’s just put it for what it’s worth there Joshua. Flat out you lied and why should we believe this story now it was all made up? Who’s back pedaling? Simply put Joshua you’re lame and there’s no excuse for you. You don’t see me going to any other website downing the GM or Ford. Jason I do disagree in how smart you think Joshua is. Anyone with any intelligence wouldn’t waste their time doing what he’s doing other than a spoiled brat who didn’t get his way. Joshua smile you’re on candid camera. Only you acn prevent yourself from being the village idiot.
The following post was an April Fools prank. Our apologies to any Dodge owners who got excited about buying a quality product! LOL what a joke! Toyota, quality products??? R U serious??? Thats why when people were getting killed because of a malfuctioning accelerator, Toyota tried to play it off like nothing was going on. Buy a Toyota if you dont mind dying in a fiery crash or possibly killing a family in a car you hit when you cant stop your vehicle!
Jimmy – Sorry we hurt your feelings. After the bankruptcy, a federal bail-out, and the Italian take-over, Chrysler’s quality is improving. Good for them!
wow ur worried about toyota and dodge? if your would just buy a chevy you would be content. Chevy Runs Deep
this would suck
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