With Three Weeks Left In The Year, Can Ram Pull Off Another Second Place Sales Finish?

Will Ram Be Able To Steal Second Place From Chevrolet 2 Years In A Row?

Jared Balfour December 13, 2020

Last year the Ram Truck brand hit a massive milestone when they were able to finally steal the second place sales spot from the Chevrolet Silverado for the first time. Ram pickup sales were up 18% over 2018 with 633,394 Ram trucks sold in the U.S, while perennial second-place sales finisher Silverado was down 2.55% with 570,639 trucks sold.

2020 Ram 1500 Rebel and 2020 Ram 2500 Power Wagon. (5thGenRams).

The tide has changed through the third quarter of this year, with the Silverado taking back the second place spot ever so slightly. From January up until October, Chevrolet has sold 409,967 Silverados, compared to 402,410 Ram pickups giving them a lead of 7,557 trucks. Not only does that make it a tight race, but during Q3 of this year, 145,525 Silverados found new homes while Ram sold 156,157 pickups, edging the Silverado out that quarter by 10,632 units.

(L to R) Chevrolet’s 2020 Silverado and 2020 Silverado 2500 HD High Country. (Chevrolet).

This last quarter is definitely going to be interesting as both brands have introduced new features for 2021 models, which have been arriving on dealer lots for the past few weeks, while Ford has launched an all-new F150, which has been arriving on dealer lots as well.

Another interesting note is that through Q3 of this year, all brands are down double-digit percentages except for the GM twins. The Silverado is essentially flat through Q3, and the Sierra is up 6.7% for the year compared to Q3 of 2019.

2020 Ram 1500 Limited Black Crew Cab 4×4. (Ram).

Will Ram pass Chevrolet this quarter to get the second place spot two years in a row? We will know in early January.

Here is the full-size truck market breakdown through Q3:

Sales (U.S)	Q3 2020	Q3 2019	Change	YTD 2020	YTD 2019	Compared to last year

Ford F-Series	221647	214176	3.50%	589034	662574	-11.10%
Chevrolet Silverado	145525	153853	-5.60%	409967	409316	0.00%
Ram Pickups	156157	161635	-3.00%	402410	461115	-13.00%
GMC Sierra	67812	66198	0.02%	174645	163601	6.70%
Toyota Tundra	27934	31565	-12.00%	76814	86062	-11.10%
Nissan Titan	7207	7386	-2.40%	19403	25412	-23.60%

Third-quarter full-sized truck sales 2020 compared to 2019 (MoparInsiders)

Full-size truck sales through Q3 2020-2019 (MoparInsiders)

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Jared B Dec 13, 2020 #1

It is really going to be interesting to see how this shakes up. The Silverado started the year way ahead of Ram, but Ram has been reeling them in the past half of the year. Obviously, if Q4 goes the same way Q3 did Ram will get the second-place spot. Obviously, with the whole pandemic, this definitely isn't a normal year but it looks like it hasn't been affecting the GM twins. Ford sales are down but that could also be people waiting for the 2021 F150, and the Tundra/Titan trucks have been sliding for years.

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M Mike201 Dec 14, 2020 #2

I am really hoping for another win by Ram. With all their awards of late and the 3rd consecutive Motor Trends T.O.T. Year award should swing a lot of new buyers.

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A AlexB Dec 14, 2020 #3

Well, this well GM finally got single cab back into inventory. Manley's chart back in 2018 showed how Single cabs have shrunk to very small part of the market. But within the single cab segment its pretty much Chevy, so that's a nearly quarter of Chevy sales. GM is adding back Oshawa back into production mix, but configuring at one-third the space which is good for 250,000 annual units.

So medium term, Stellantis needs another RAM plant, especially as COVID seems to have only increase the North American shift to Pickup trucks.

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TripleT Dec 14, 2020 #4

It is all about capacity, Ram could run for 1 if they could make enough of them.

Jared B Dec 15, 2020 #5

Capacity is definitely an issue. I can't remember if plans have been laid out for JNAP after Grand Cherokee goes to Mack and Durango goes body on frame?

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