Ram 1500 REV delayed to 2026 due to slow EV demand

However, the Ram 1500 Ramcharger range extender will launch in the first half of 2025 due to “strong consumer interest”

Stellantis has once again delayed the launch of the all-electric Ram 1500 REV, this time pushing it to 2026. This decision probably won’t come as a shock to anyone paying attention to the electric vehicle market. Why? They blame “slowing industry demand” for electric trucks, a polite way of saying customers aren’t lining up to swap their gas-guzzling trucks for battery-powered workhorses.

But don’t worry, Stellantis has a plan B: the Ram 1500 Ramcharger, an extended-range version of the truck expected to be available in 2025 to help close the gap.

More: Stellantis insider reveals ex-CEO Tavares personally killed Hemi V8

Launched in early 2023, the Ram 1500 REV was initially promised to arrive in late 2024 as the brand’s first electric offering. However, Stellantis recently delayed the launch to early 2025, with former CEO Carlos Tavares insisting they didn’t want to rush such an important model. Now, the company has pushed its Ford F-150 Lightning and Tesla Cybertruck rivals all the way to 2026, revealing the real reason behind their hesitation.

Consumer preferences drive decisions

According to Stellantis, the decision to prioritize the range-extender version over electric vehicles was due to “significant consumer interest,” the need to “maintain a technological competitive edge” and “slowing industry demand for half-ton all-electric pickup trucks.” “In short, customers seem to prefer the Ramcharger’s extended range, which also makes it less reliant on charging infrastructure that is still being developed.

The Ramcharger uses a 3.6-liter V6 engine that acts as a generator for a 92 kWh battery pack and has a range of 690 miles (1,110 kilometers), while the all-electric version has a range of 500 miles (805 kilometers). It’s also more powerful, with 663 hp (494 kW / 672 hp), slightly better than the 1500 REV’s 654 hp (448 kW / 663 hp), although we doubt anyone will notice the difference.

Production of the Ram 1500 “primarily” takes place at the Sterling Heights Assembly Plant in Michigan, and will include both electric and conventional internal combustion versions.

Leadership reshuffle

This strategic shift coincides with a change in leadership at the Ram brand. Tim Kuniskis, a 32-year company veteran known for breathing life into Dodge with the launch of the Hellcat lineup, retired from his supervisory role at Ram and Dodge in June , is back as Ram CEO. He replaces Chris Feuell after Carlos Tavares resigned as CEO of Stellantis. Kuniskis takes on his new role at a critical time for Stellantis, as the company struggles to balance its electrification ambitions with the realities of current market demands.