Dodge and Ram are not united as one and haven’t been for over a decade.
You may remember back in the old days when going down to the nearest Dodge dealership included a grouping of some of the biggest and worst trucks on the market.
Trucks that belonged in the driveway. That is not to say that these trucks cannot be found today. But you will not find the Dodge logo on them.
Dodge no longer produces Ram. 2009 was a pivotal time in the history of the two, all because Chrysler Group decided to change things up a bit.
When Did Ram Separate From Dodge?
In 2009 Chrysler Corporation, the parent company of Dodge ran into some financial trouble. They had to file bankruptcy with the courts to get some help with their debts.
In the business world, this does not mean the company’s end. It just allows them to have a new beginning. It was the exact time to answer the question when Ram split from Dodge.
A new beginning brought a new partnership with Fiat, a company hungry for expansion.
Fiat took on a 20% stake in the newly formed Chrysler Group, and the current CEO of Fiat became the new CEO of Chrysler. From there, changes were made to create a unique look for Dodge and Ram.
With its partners’ help, the new company decided to change things around to create a new brand. From 2009 on, Dodge would be branded as SUVs, minivans, cars, and muscle cars.
Ram would be branded as trucks. The two would no longer be the same but rather two separate entities under one umbrella company.
The thought behind this branding strategy was to take two names that consumers knew well and make them into two separate car manufacturers.
In this way, each area could focus on what they were good at, and if one succeeded while the other didn’t, Chrysler could cut some losses and still keep one that made them decent profits.
Brief History of Dodge
The Dodge brand has been a household name since 1900 when the two Dodge brothers made a name for themselves in the transportation industry.
Not as car builders but as bike builders. Their bikes were filled with time, effort, and excellence. John Francis and Horace did not enter the motorized car industry until 1902.
The quality of the Dodge brother’s parts became so well known that Oldsmobile signed contracts with them to produce parts for their cars.
Shortly after, Ford offered the brothers a 10% stake in the Ford Motor Company, as long as they supplied transmissions and engines for the Model T.
That’s right, the Dodge brothers started in the automotive industry by supplying quality parts for the vehicles produced by two other companies.
That partnership ended in 1914 when the Dodge Brothers introduced their own car onto the market, which was affectionately dubbed “Old Betsy.”
Story Behind The Ram
Ram was born in 2009 when the Chrysler Corporation officially separated the truck brand from the car brands.
The good thing for them was that since 1981 when the first Dodge truck was labeled a Ram, the trucks have built up a reputation similar to the Dodge cars of today.
They became known as rugged, dependable, and great-looking. Trucks have since started to take the top spot away from Ford F-150s, which held the honor for over 40 years.
Ram trucks are still known for their great trucks, but unfortunately, many people don’t even know they have been separate entities for over a decade.
In 2009 Ram became its own truck manufacturer, but both are still under the Chrysler Group name.
Until 2014 that is when even more significant changes came about to Chrysler. Fiat and Chrysler merged into one company which since has been called Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA).
This is the name of the main umbrella corporation now, but Dodge and Ram are still their own vehicle manufacturing companies.
How Many Years Dodge and Ram Been Together and Why Do Users Like The Dodge Ram Brand?
Dodge and Ram’s trucks were together as one for 28 years. During that time, the Dodge Ram became one of the top three-selling trucks in the nation.
The reasons were simple. Dodge engineered and produced trucks that were dependable, strong, and affordable.
For over 70 years, the Dodge Ram spotlighted the truck-buying marketplace.
They may not have ever made it to the top of the pack until they separated, but they were known as some of the most trustworthy trucks for use on and off the beaten path.
Truck enthusiasts often have queries on when did dodge split from ram.
They should probably dig into the sales history of trucks in the year 2005. Up until 2005, Dodge trucks steadily increased in sales throughout the world.
In the United States, truck sales topped off at just over 400,000 for the year.
These sales numbers show that the American public loved the Dodge Ram, but the popularity of the trucks began to wane due to complaints about the quality of the body and chassis.
Other than rusty out before they should (Ford trucks had the same problem), the Dodge Ram held up to any task you would ever want to put it through.
With a little effort and money, these trucks could drive for 200k miles or more, which is suitable for older trucks.
The Popularity of RAM After Separation From Dodge
2009 was a lousy year for Chrysler, which could be shown by the drastic drop in sales. The year-end in ’09 showed that the Ram had sales numbers of a mere 177,268 trucks.
It just shows one of the biggest reasons Ram has split away from Dodge. Since the separation, the sales numbers have been steadily on the rise.
It is to be expected, though, because Ram was able to put more time and effort into developing new trucks with top-of-the-line innovative technology.
Ram trucks have the same reputation as being dependable and tough, but they were finally able to shed the skin that had plagued the truck for so long, and that was a truck that looked old and outdated.
Ram trucks are no longer third or fourth in the lineup of trucks. U.S News and Consumer Reports have given the Ram the title of being the best truck on the market for several years, which toppled the Ford F150 that has held the top spot for so long.
This year, 2022, Consumer Reports stated that the Ram truck was the best on the market.
CR did not just state that Ram was the best but that the company sold the truck for a reasonable price. A price that was lower than any of their competition in class trucks.
What this means for you, as the consumer, is that the best-selling truck can be bought for less than the others.
Ram Statistics and Trims [Current Lineup of RAM]
US News gave the Ram 1500 the number-one spot for 2022 due to its price, quality, reliability, and performance.
On a scale of 1 to 10, the Ram scored an impressive 9.1. This is based on the basic model you can buy off the lot. It does not include the variations of trucks that the company has on the market.
- Ram 1500 TRX: 2L supercharged Hemi with 702 HP and 650 lb-ft of torque
- Ram 1500: 7L with 395 HP and 410 lb-ft of torque
- Ram 2500: 7L Cummins Diesel with 370 HP and 850 lb-ft of torque
- Ram 3500: 7L High-Output Cummins Diesel with 420 HP and 1075 lb-ft of torque
- Ram Chassis Cab: 7L High-Output Cummins Diesel with 420 HP and 1075lb-ft of torque
- Ram 1500 Classic: 6L V6 with 305HP and 269 lb-ft of torque
- Ram 1500 Limited 10th Anniversary Edition: 7L with Etorque with 410 HP and 395 lb-ft of torque
- Ram 1500 Laramie G/T And Rebel G/T Edition: 6L V6 with 305 HP and 269 lb-ft of torque
- Ram 1500 Big Horn Backcountry Edition: 6L V6 with 305 HP and 269 lb-ft of torque
- Ram 1500 Limited Red Edition: 7L with Etorque with 410 HP and 395 lb-ft of torque
- Ram 1500 Built To Serve Edition: Whatever you want
The last five trucks on the lineup are models strictly for the 2022 model year, with the possibility of some being brought back for next year.
The thing with these trucks is that they are outperforming the competition in every trim. Let’s take a closer look at some horsepower numbers compared to the competition.
Keep in mind that the trucks from all the car makers can be produced with different-sized motors.
These comparisons will be between the ones that are the closest match, except for the Toyota, because it does not have a V8 option this year.
| RAM Trucks | Competition | HP Differences |
| Ram 1500 – 5.7L | Ford F150 – 5.0L | Ram 5 HP less |
| Ram 1500 – 5.7L | Chevrolet 1500 – 5.3L | Ram 40 HP more |
| Ram 1500 – 5.7L | Toyota – 3.5L | Ram 6 HP more |
These comparisons are for the 2022 model years. The Ram truck is right up there with the competition, but dependability is what it has going for it over the others.
The Ram truck is one of the most reliable on the market today, and the future look seven brighter and bolder.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dodge and Ram Separate?
Yes. In 2009 after Chrysler went through bankruptcy, it entered into a partnership with Fiat.
The CEO of Fiat at the time became the CEO of the new Chrysler Group and decided to shake things up by separating the long-time union of Dodge and Ram.
The name of the umbrella corporation they are under is Stellantis, but the branches of Dodge and Ram remain as two separate entities.
Who Owns Ram Now?
Ram has always been owned by the Chrysler Corporation, that is up until 2014 when they merged with Fiat to form Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA).
FCA is the official name of the umbrella corporation, which is the company that owns Ram trucks.
That umbrella corporation’s name has since been changed to Stellantis Multinational Corporation.
Are Ram Trucks Dependable?
J.D Powers gave the ram truck a rating of 86 out of 100, which is considered a great rating by the well-known vehicle rating company.
Consumer Reports provides the truck with a slightly above-average reliability rating but states that it is one of the most comfortable riding trucks on the market today.
The Ram is one of the most dependable trucks on the market. When compared with the top competitors in each class, consumer reports give Ram the thumbs up above the rest.
Why Did They Separate Dodge and Ram?
After the Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the company decided to make some changes. They separated Ram and Dodge so each could be rebranded and reborn.
Dodge would focus on performance cars, while Ram would concentrate on trucks.
It is a basic marketing technique that companies effectively use to get the consumer to focus on one of their products rather than confusing them with choices.
In this case, if you want a truck, you will go to Ram and see trucks with no cars to distract you.
Does China Own Ram?
Ram trucks are made in America. The Ram 1500 Classic is made in Michigan, like the original trucks before them.
To be technical, Stellantis is headquartered in Hoofddorp, Netherlands. So Ram trucks are not owned by China but by the Netherlands. This does not mean that American-made trucks are not American.
It just means that Ram trucks have the best of all nations because they can combine the technology of each area of the world into one great truck.
Last Words
The Dodge Ram is a thing of the past, but the Ram truck has the same great qualities and toughness that the old school trucks had, but better.
When Ram broke off on its own, the company could focus on making its trucks better than the competition.
It also allowed Dodge the opportunity to focus on its muscle car lineup.
The great thing is that both areas have been successful and can keep their eyes on what matters to each of them, but since they are under the same umbrella corporation, they have been able to share the knowledge they have gained with each other.
Bruce is a seasoned automotive aficionado with a deep passion for Dodge Ram vehicles. With years of hands-on experience, he’s your trusted expert for all things related to Dodge Ram cars.