CAUGHT: 2023 Ram ProMaster Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV) Commercial Van!

CAUGHT: 2023 Ram ProMaster Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV) Commercial Van!​

Appears To Be Testing In Europe, Before Arriving Here In North America...​

Over the past couple of years, the demand for the full-size Ram ProMaster commercial van has continued to grow. So much so, that Stellantis has put a plan in place to expand the manufacturing capacity at the Saltillo Van Assembly Plant in Mexico in the recent year. This included adding a third shift to the 2.8 million square feet facility, which now employs 2,404 (2,242 hourly; 162 salaried). Stellantis is also increasing production by 4 jobs per hour, which should raise production to a full capacity of 97,000 units per year by 2023 according to a presentation shown earlier this year to fleet owners.

CAUGHT: 2023 Ram ProMaster Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV) Commercial Van!

Over the past couple of years, the demand for the full-size Ram ProMaster commercial van has continued to grow. So much so, that Stellantis has put a plan in place to expand the manufacturing capacity at the Saltillo Van Assembly Plant in Mexico in the recent year.

moparinsiders.com

 

[redriderbob]

 

[bill burke]

This is an immediate impact product for the commercial segment. Large fleet operations will likely gravitate to this innovative Pro Master and generate sales and market share. As mentioned, the Pro Master is overdue for a serious update, including styling that is more pleasing. I also believe a need is there for a complete modernization in suspension and load capacity design innovations that takes this Ram to an attention grabbing new level. With anticipated updates and manufacturing capacity increases the Pro Master has much growth potential, especially with their electrification program. The Ram brand has just scratched the surface of its commercial potential especially when larger vehicles and new platforms are factored in to the calculation.

 

[patfromigh]

Wishful thinking for my part, but I would like to see a higher capacity rear drive based LCV from Stellantis, now that the Opel brand is in the mix. Iveco seems unwilling to share the Daily with Ram, but now Opel is without a rear drive LCV. Maybe there wasn't a business case for such a product for the EU alone, but with Ram Trucks expansion into Latin America, that is three continents of market coverage, spread among all the brands.

The Ram ProMaster has a good track record and is a poster child for customer influenced design. A battery electric option makes a great deal of sense because many fleets provide their own charging infrastructure. The diesel option quietly disappeared quite awhile ago. Diesel fuel prices are again nearing the tipping point for customers looking at alternatives.

Getting back to wishful thinking, I still think Stellantis should setup local production of LCVs from knock down kits somewhere in North America, so we can get a broader range of commercial vehicles here. Daimler-Benz does that, that's why they can sell the Vito (Metris in the US) to our USPS. However Ram should continue to use American sourced powertrains as the ProMaster and ProMaster City currently do. I would like to see more of the Doblo range sold here.