Compact RAM Pickup a Consideration: Exec Says

Though a final decision has not yet been made, a Chrysler executive confirmed that a compact Ram pickup is currently being mulled over as engineers study several platforms that it could potentially be built on. 

Back in 2009, Chrysler briefly spoke about plans for a compact pickup when it revealed its five-year plan; it appears that may still be on schedule as a potential new pickup built on a unibody platform is being researched.

“Based on the research we’ve done of the customers and their needs… we can do something in a unibody,” said Joe Veltri, Chrysler’s vice president of product planning.

Even though several automakers have been exiting the compact pickup market in recent years, others have enjoyed greater success with less competition – naturally. Toyota, for example, has sold 67,150 Tacoma pickups this year, a 27 percent increase compared to the same period of time in 2011. GM has plans on reentering the market with its new Chevrolet Colorado, but there has been no confirmation as to how soon.

The biggest hurdle Chrysler, or any automaker for that matter, faces with the small pickup market is to aggressively price them so that consumers don’t opt for a larger truck. Of course fuel efficiency is always a top concern in the pickup category, so it appears that the American automaker has its work cut out.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]