Ram Cancels Development of its All-Electric Pickup Truck

Citing slowing demand for electric pickup trucks, Ram has decided to cancel development of its all-electric pickup, the Ram 1500 REV. However, the brand plans to continue development of electrified trucks and will use the REV name elsewhere.

"As demand for full-size electric trucks slows in North America and Stellantis reassesses its product strategy, the company is discontinuing development of a full-size electric pickup truck," Stellantis told AutoTrader in a statement.

However, as first reported by Automotive News and later confirmed to AutoTrader, the name Ram 1500 REV will be applied to a hybrid version of the truck.

"As part of this, Ram is renaming its REEV-powered pickup to Ram 1500 REV (formerly Ramcharger)," a spokesperson told us. The REEV powertrain uses electric motors to power the wheels and uses an internal combustion engine as a generator to charge the battery pack while the vehicle is on the move.

Previously, Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis argued that such hybrid vehicles suit more consumers because they offer smooth electric power and torque while also being capable of long range travel and quick refuelling. That may, in part, help explain why the development of an all electric pickup truck has been so tricky for Ram.

When the brand first announced the 1500 REV in 2023, it was supposed to go into production by 2024. The brand then delayed introduction until 2026, and finally to 2027, before now announcing that the project has been abandoned altogether.

The timing of the decision is notable, as it follows the departure of Stellantis’ (the company that owns Ram) controversial CEO, Carlos Tavares, and the appointment of Tim Kuniskis to the head of the pickup truck brand.

While in charge of Dodge, Kuniskis was a proponent of V8 engines and helped give the brand its old-fashioned muscle car image. Since taking the helm at Ram, the brand announced the return of the Hemi V8 to its 1500 lineup, despite the fact that the old-fashioned engine is less powerful than the inline-six-cylinder engine that replaced it.

While interest in electric vehicles (EVs) in general has been affected in Canada and the United States by disappearing tax credits, vanishing electrification goals, and wider affordability concerns, the market for electric pickups has been growing, at least in the U.S.

Between 2022 and 2024, annual sales of the all-electric Ford F-150 Lightning have grown steadily from over 15,000 to over 33,000. Meanwhile, Chevrolet sold around 7,400 Silverado EVs last year. However, neither truck has come close to matching the sales of its internal-combustion-engine-powered counterpart. In 2024, Ford sold over 765,000 F-150s in the U.S. while Chevrolet sold over 552,000 Silverados.