RamTrucks CEO and President Reid Bigland got his turn among the executives elucidating the near-term futures for brands in theFiatChryslerAutomobiles umbrella, laying out the plans for both Ram trucks and Fiat Professional. After Bigland said that the company "will continue to invest heavily in commercial vehicles" for the Italian arm, he didn't give many specifics as to where that investment would go. What we do know for now is that a newFiat Doblowill come next year - that's the truck we've beencatching spy shots ofand that will be thebasis for the Ram ProMaster City.
In 2016 will come the next-generationFiorino, a small cargo van sold in markets outside the US as a Fiat, as theCitroënNemo andPeugeotBipper. The European and South American markets will also get a new midsize pickup that same year.
Bigland's goal for Ram Trucks and Ram commercial is just a touch more ambitious: "Build the best pickup trucks and commercial vehicles in the industry" and increase NAFTA-market sales from 463,000 in 2013 to 620,000 in 2018. The waypoints along that road include a refresh for theRam 1500in 2015 and then a brand new 1500 to come two years later in 2017. Bracketing that, a refresh for theHeavy Duty lineuphappens in 2016, and two years later it will also get an all-new generation.
In the same timeframe the commercial models will get called in for a mix of updates. TheProMastergets fitted for a diesel – a different oil-burning powerplant than the 3.0-liter in theRam 1500 EcoDiesel– later this year. TheProMaster Cityalso bows in Q4 of this year, and you can see a rendering of its face that we caught during the presentation. The Ram Chassis Cab is due for a minor update in 2016, major updates headed for both the Ram Commercial Light Duty line in 2017 and the Heavy Duty and Chassis Cab line in 2018.
We've recently heard much about howFiat-ChryslerCEOSergio Marchionneplans to pump up the volume onJeepsales,inaugurating new modelsand global dealerships. But that's the stuff outlined infive-year plans; right now, advertising and special editions are at the fore, and the lateMichael Jackson, too. Jeep has begun airing two commercials to push its Altitude Editions,Call of SummerandLovers of the Game, that feature the song "Love Never Felt So Good" from Jackson's upcoming album of new music.
A little more star power – and timely, too – comes from Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving. WhileCall of Summerfeatures a few short shots of the former Rookie of the Year and two-time NBA All-Star,Lovers of theGameis all about his white Wrangler Altitude Edition and wrangling shots. You can watch both spotsbelow, and if you want to hear the rest of the music track before the album hits, you candownload it from iTunes.
