For a brand that was considered a minor player when it first arrived in Australia, RAM has surprised a lot of people in recent times with the local production numbers for the right hand drive conversion operation in Melbourne topping the 20ooo mark since Ateco Group started as the approved importer by RAM’s parent company Stellantis ( once Fiat Chrysler)
This 20,000th truck – a 6.2-litre supercharged V8 HEMI® TRX in Hydro Blue – was built at RAM Trucks Australia’s recently-expanded Melbourne Manufacturing Facility.
Carl Smiley, Stellantis’ CCO, for India and Asia Pacific, and Billy Hayes, the head of sales, marketing and regional operations for Stellantis inIndia and Asia Pacific, were both on hand to celebrate the milestone.
“RAM is one of our best known and strongest brands in the USA and I am really proud to see it here in Australia,” said Smiley.
“The Ateco Group are great partners to have in this project – the quality of right-hand drive trucks is testament to the teamwork between those on the ground here in Australia and those back in the US.”
This was Smiley’s first visit to RAM Trucks Australia’s manufacturing facility, enabling him to see first hand how the company is poised for further growth.
“We are committed to continued support for the Ateco Group and their RAM Trucks Australia business with further technical and engineering assistance,” confirmed Smiley.
“With discussions around future product – including the recent RAM Revolution EV truck reveal – I’m confident the long-term arrangement will continue to innovate and elevate this partnership.”
The Ateco Group is the world’s only RAM-authorised manufacturer of right-hand drive RAM trucks. The relationship with RAM Trucks in the USA initially began in late 2013 and continues to innovate to deliver a no compromise, full-size pick-up truck that leads in durability, technology, efficiency and luxury.
All RAM Trucks Australia vehicles are international-spec vehicles, uniquely coded for the Australian and New Zealand markets and the local build process.
RAM claims to be the biggest vehicle manufacturer in Australia now. However even with the fact that it uses more than 1,000 new parts on the DS, DT and heavy-duty models it is far from a manufacturing operation, and in reality it is a high class conversion plant, with the vehicles arriving here in a fully built up LHD,state before being converted to RHD. RA does claim righty that there are significant local supply chain benefits of this fast-growing vehicle segment.
The RAM range starts with 1500 Express Crew and Warlock models in the original DS variant, followed by the 1500 Laramie and 1500 Limited in the recently launched DT model range, along with the Heavy Duty 2500 Laramie and Heavy Duty 3500 Laramie.
Rounding out the range is the all-new RAM TRX, which the company says is a powerful new halo model for RAM Trucks Australia.
