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Stellantis resurrects $100,000 Ram TRX V-8 pickup truck amid industry deregulation
CNBCยท 2026-01-01 15:00
Core Insights - Stellantis is reviving the V-8-powered Ram 1500 SRT TRX pickup truck, which will be available late in 2026 for approximately $100,000, as part of a U.S. sales turnaround plan [1][2][5] Group 1: Product Details - The 2027 Ram 1500 SRT TRX features a supercharged 6.2-liter "Hellcat" engine producing 777 horsepower and 680 foot-pounds of torque, making it the "fastest and most powerful production gas pickup truck in the world" with a 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 118 mph [2][4] - The starting price for the TRX is $99,995, excluding a $2,595 destination fee, bringing the total to $102,590, compared to the initial TRX price of $71,690 in 2020 [4] Group 2: Strategic Direction - The return of the TRX aligns with CEO Tim Kuniskis's turnaround strategy, which includes over 25 announcements aimed at revitalizing Stellantis's U.S. sales, which have declined significantly in recent years [3][5] - Kuniskis has shifted the company's focus back to V-8 engines, reversing previous plans to phase them out due to stricter fuel economy regulations that have since been relaxed [5][6] Group 3: Sales Performance - Stellantis's U.S. sales fell from the fourth to the sixth position among automakers from 2021 to 2024, with a 6% decrease in sales through the third quarter of the previous year, and an expected total of 1.25 million sales for the year, down 4.4% from 2024 [6][7] - The company aims to capture market share in a challenging environment, as auto sales are projected to remain flat or decline in 2026 [7][8] Group 4: Other Brand Strategies - Jeep is also undergoing a turnaround strategy, with plans to reposition pricing, models, and features to address years of declining sales since 2018 [9][10] - The Jeep reset plan aims to streamline the product lineup and improve profitability, with new models like a resurrected Cherokee and an all-electric Recon expected to contribute to growth [11][12]