RAM Charger Production?

[wired]

Has anyone been able to confirm if the RAM Charger will still be built in Michigan?

Additionally, with the introduction of new tariffs, how do you think this will impact production costs and overall sales?

 

[FireRunt]

I think the cost of the vehicle is going to skyrocket. I haven’t heard anything about where they’re actually going to manufacture the vehicle.

 

[El Chorizo]

I think the cost of the vehicle is going to skyrocket. I haven’t heard anything about where they’re actually going to manufacture the vehicle.

Why do you think the cost will skyrocket?

 

[FireRunt]

With all these tariffs, some part will be backordered or extraordinarily priced and it will not only delay shipment but cost us more. I really hope I’m wrong.

 

[El Chorizo]

With all these tariffs, some part will be backordered or extraordinarily priced and it will not only delay shipment but cost us more. I really hope I’m wrong.

I definitely see the costs going up, but hopefully skyrocket isn't what happens. I'd love to see the domestics win on price... I wish we had more of a sense of "buy American" instead of sending so much money to Chinese companies.

 

[scottK]

The reason the money was going to China is because it’s cheaper than producing in the US—they work for far less. So the tariffs make it more expensive to buy from China. Which makes it just as expensive to build those parts here.

Not really a free-market economy, but I digess.

So, the price will go up, regardless. Now, the smart companies will indeed build new factories here but will use as much automation/robots that can be managed.

Millions will be unemployed and the US companies get to pay OUR government while they shoulder the burden of building new factories.

I expect I won’t be able to afford the new truck that I wanted so badly.

 

[El Chorizo]

The reason the money was going to China is because it’s cheaper than producing in the US—they work for far less. So the tariffs make it more expensive to buy from China. Which makes it just as expensive to build those parts here.

Not really a free-market economy, but I digess.

So, the price will go up, regardless. Now, the smart companies will indeed build new factories here but will use as much automation/robots that can be managed.

Millions will be unemployed and the US companies get to pay OUR government while they shoulder the burden of building new factories.

I expect I won’t be able to afford the new truck that I wanted so badly.

I totally get that. But how do you expect (I wouldn't want) American companies to compete with Chinese companies that have: Stolen our IP. Use slave labor. Ignore the environment completely. Have government subsidies. Don't have to compete with American companies in their country. Can pretty much do whatever they want, legal or not.

It's an impossible playing field for American companies if you have to compete against that.

 

[scottK]

In the interests of keeping this from going deep into politics as this is NOT the place for this. Suffice it to say that I disagree with most of what you said, but let's agree to disagree.

 

[El Chorizo]

In the interests of keeping this from going deep into politics as this is NOT the place for this. Suffice it to say that I disagree with most of what you said, but let's agree to disagree.

Nothing wrong with disagreements. I do agree definitely don't want to go political. I wish people could have rational discussions like the old days where we don't assume someone is wrong or stupid just because they disagree.

Long live healthy discussions! Now, onto the next one!

 

[lutey]

No politics for sure in the group. But yes.. this will impact the pricing of the RamCharger even though it will be made in the U.S.. The problem is.. I think the RamCharger even before the tariffs was going to be priced too high. Some inside sources were saying the basic trim level (Big Horn or Tradesman) was going to be over 80K. That was before the tariff issue. I'm afraid i'll be having to look for a used F150 Hybrid instead with the power on board.. but unfortunately the tariffs will also impact used car prices. It's going to be just like the supply shortages we saw.. new car prices are going to skyrocket and production will go down and inventory will be low.. and then used car prices will skyrocket as well. Again.. this is not political, it's just what's going to happen.

 

[Rotorhead]

No politics for sure in the group. But yes.. this will impact the pricing of the RamCharger even though it will be made in the U.S.. The problem is.. I think the RamCharger even before the tariffs was going to be priced too high. Some inside sources were saying the basic trim level (Big Horn or Tradesman) was going to be over 80K. That was before the tariff issue. I'm afraid i'll be having to look for a used F150 Hybrid instead with the power on board.. but unfortunately the tariffs will also impact used car prices. It's going to be just like the supply shortages we saw.. new car prices are going to skyrocket and production will go down and inventory will be low.. and then used car prices will skyrocket as well. Again.. this is not political, it's just what's going to happen.

That isnt what I heard nor what Ram put out, starting price for the lower models was going to be around $60k. Ram is already giving healthy rebates on new trucks (and Jeeps) now because they are priced too high and sitting on dealer lots. I imagine they are going to try to keep the top max spec'd truck under the $100k mark (before mark-ups) or most ppl will see those prices and not even visit the show rooms. In today's market, on the first adopters will be paying over $100k for them and that will be due to dealerships adding 10's of thousands of mark-up to them. And for the tarrifs, I wasnt able to read too much into it, but I did hear POTUS said for vehicles not manufactured here, so if they are assembled here they shouldnt fall under the tarrifs?

 

[lutey]

That isnt what I heard nor what Ram put out, starting price for the lower models was going to be around $60k. Ram is already giving healthy rebates on new trucks (and Jeeps) now because they are priced too high and sitting on dealer lots. I imagine they are going to try to keep the top max spec'd truck under the $100k mark (before mark-ups) or most ppl will see those prices and not even visit the show rooms. In today's market, on the first adopters will be paying over $100k for them and that will be due to dealerships adding 10's of thousands of mark-up to them. And for the tarrifs, I wasnt able to read too much into it, but I did hear POTUS said for vehicles not manufactured here, so if they are assembled here they shouldnt fall under the tarrifs?

Hopefully Ram will end the speculation soon. Most of the vehicles manufactured here get lots of part from outside of the U.S., so the parts will be subject to tariffs as well. But given then supply and demand as well as dealers/manufacturers spreading the tariff fees around.. all cars will see a healthy cost increase. It's gonna be tough for automakers and the public at large.