Tim Kuniskis Opens Up About His Return to Ram at Stellantis

Tim Kuniskis, CEO of Ram, recently spoke with the Detroit Free Press about his return to Stellantis after a brief and unexpected departure in May 2024. Having spent 32 years with Stellantis and its predecessor companies, Kuniskis left for a short break but didn’t retire.

“I didn’t need to retire. I just needed a break. I needed a vacation, and I figured that out pretty early on,” Kuniskis shared, reflecting on his decision to leave the industry after decades of work. He quickly realized that his passion for the automotive world didn’t disappear during his break. “When I finally got that time off in my retirement, starting in June, I was always on the phone with people I’d worked with, asking what was going on,” Kuniskis said.

Despite rumors of tension with former CEO Carlos Tavares, Kuniskis set the record straight. “No, I was totally fine with Tavares,” he stated. “I didn’t agree with him on a lot of stuff, but that’s not unique to him. That’s my personality. I disagree with a lot of my bosses. It didn’t matter what level of the company I was. It’s just who I am.” Kuniskis emphasized that leaving Stellantis was his decision and not based on personal conflicts.

The offer to return came from John Elkann, Stellantis’ Chairman. “He said, ‘Would you consider coming back?’ and I’m like, ‘Hell yeah, I’d consider coming back,’” Kuniskis revealed.

Kuniskis’ first move upon returning was to adjust the timeline for the launch of the range-extending electric vehicle (REEV) Ram 1500 Ramcharger, making it an earlier priority than the all-electric Ram 1500 REV, which is now slated for release in 2026. “It was an easy decision, in my opinion,” Kuniskis said about the change, citing the increasingly complex EV market as a factor.

On the challenges Ram faced in 2024, Kuniskis pointed to production difficulties with the 2025 Ram 1500, despite the truck receiving positive reviews, including MotorTrend’s ‘2025 Truck of the Year’ award. “Where the train wreck happened was light duty,” Kuniskis explained. “The problem wasn’t with either the ProMaster Van or the Heavy Duty… Where the train wreck happened was light duty.” He blamed the botched launch on introducing too many changes simultaneously, including the new Hurricane engine and the Atlantis electrical architecture.

“Things are better, but not fixed,” Kuniskis admitted, highlighting the ongoing challenges with trim availability, particularly the Rebel and Warlock models. He acknowledged customers’ frustrations due to the lack of certain trims and emphasized the importance of fixing production issues first.

Source: Detroit Free Press