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Ram began as the Dodge Ram pickup truck line in 1981, when the first-generation Dodge Ram was introduced. The Ram name referred to the hood ornament ram head logo that Dodge had used on trucks since the 1930s but not consistently. The first-generation Ram (1981-1993) was a boxy, utilitarian pickup that competed with Ford and Chevrolet trucks.
The 1994 Ram second-generation redesign was a landmark, using a dramatic big-rig-inspired front end designed by Cale Roop under Trev Creed direction. This design was a commercial success and established the distinctive Ram styling language that continues to this day. The Cummins turbo-diesel inline-six engine option, available since the Ram introduction, was a key differentiator.
In 2010, Chrysler spun off Ram from Dodge as a separate brand, recognizing that Ram had become sufficiently distinct from Dodge cars in customer base, dealer network, and brand identity. Ram has since expanded from full-size pickups into heavy-duty trucks (Ram 2500/3500), the Ram ProMaster commercial van, and the Ram 1500 TRX performance off-road pickup.
[Note: Ram was part of Dodge from 1981 to 2010. Pre-2010 history refers to the Dodge Ram. The brand history has been retroactively attributed to Ram, which was not a standalone brand at the time.]
The Ram 1500 (2013) was the first half-ton pickup to use an eight-speed automatic transmission, paired with the 3.6L Pentastar V6 or 5.7L Hemi V8, improving fuel economy and towing capability compared to competitors still using six-speed transmissions.
The Ram 1500 introduced a coil-spring rear suspension in 2009 (first generation Ram independent brand), replacing the traditional leaf-spring rear suspension used by competitors. This improved ride quality and handling without sacrificing payload or towing capacity. [Note: Some competitors have since adopted coil-spring or air suspension rears, but Ford and GM still primarily use leaf springs.]
The Ram 1500 TRX (2021) was the first production pickup truck with more than 700 horsepower, using a supercharged 6.2L Hellcat Hemi V8 producing 702 hp. It was designed as a Baja-style high-speed off-road performance truck, directly competing with the Ford F-150 Raptor.
The Ram 1500 Limited introduced a power-adjustable pedals system, heated and ventilated front seats, a 12-inch vertical touchscreen, and a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, demonstrating that full-size pickup trucks could compete with luxury sedans in terms of interior comfort and technology.
The Ram 1500 Rev (2025) was the first fully electric Ram pickup, built on the STLA Frame body-on-frame platform with 800-volt architecture, targeting up to 500 miles of range in the Ramcharger extended-range variant.
The first-generation Dodge Ram pickup was launched, replacing the previous Dodge D-series trucks.
The dramatically redesigned Ram with its big-rig-inspired front end was launched, becoming an immediate commercial success.
Ram introduced the Mega Cab, the largest crew cab in the segment, offering class-leading rear passenger space.
Chrysler spun off Ram Trucks from Dodge as a standalone brand for pickup trucks and commercial vehicles.
The 702-horsepower Ram 1500 TRX, the most powerful production pickup, was introduced with a supercharged Hemi V8.
How the platform works for buyers and dealers