Latest news with #TimKuniskis
Motor Trend
21 hours ago
- Automotive
- Motor Trend
What's Going on With Ram? CEO Promises Turnaround
You will be forgiven for thinking Ram is down and out these days. The brand killed the Hemi V-8 that was a highlight of its 1500 full-size pickups, stopped building the affordable (but old) Ram Classic, and had a difficult launch of the Hemi-less 2025 Ram 1500 that included problems getting trims with all the bells and whistles out the door while also trying to start producing new Heavy Duties at the same plant. EV plans were pushed back, both for the range-extending Ramcharger and the entirely battery electric Ram 1500 REV. It adds up to a bad stretch for a brand critical to parent company Stellantis' U.S. fortunes. 0:00 / 0:00 Don't count the brand out yet, says Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis, the man who retired from Stellantis a year ago and returned in December to try to turn things around. The longtime executive returned after former Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares resigned and was exasperated at the botched Ram 1500 launch and high prices that were dragging down sales of a brand that had been flying high for years. The Fix Is In? Sales are better, he insists. With production volumes limited, the focus pivoted to fulfilling U.S. retail customers while foregoing fleet sales, especially to rental companies. The result: Retail sales were up 16 percent in the first quarter, will be closer to 40 percent higher in the second quarter, and likely will end the half about 25 percent up. At the same time, rental fleet sales will be down 90 percent. Losing the more affordable Ram Classic truck has hurt sales somewhat but there are plans to claw back some of those sales. But if anyone is expecting the return of a $40,000 stripped-down truck, those days are gone, Kuniskis says. With mandates and the tech needed, you can't strip a full-size truck down far enough and make money, he says. 'That's a midsize pickup,' he quips, and then says yes, a midsize to replace the Dakota is still in the plan but won't offer more detail right now. The 2026 Ram 1500 comes close to the old Classic's bogey, starting at $44,495. And there are 25 product and product-related announcements coming, the CEO says. EVs Will Come in Time And yes, EVs have been delayed. The Ramcharger goes into production later this year; the all-electric REV could arrive as late as summer 2027. The long-term commitment to these electrified trucks remains intact and Ram is enjoying the luxury of timing working in its favor. Being a bit of a laggard in the full-size electric pickup space allowed Ram to see how the forerunners were received. Executives watched the marketplace and saw prices increase and demand wane. Stellantis took advantage of Ram's tardiness to push back deadlines until a later date in the hopes profit margins on these products will improve. Bottom line: 'We have to get there,' Kuniskis says of EVs. Regulations and the need for compliance still exist despite some changes, so some form of electrification is needed. But the late launch will help the business case. 'We are able to delay until we can get a better margin.' Ram will still be first among a new crop to offer an extended-range EV (EREV) with the Ramcharger, which uses its gas engine only as a generator for its smaller-than-REV battery. (Vehicles that use the engine to power the wheels at all are considered to be plug-in hybrids, but the Ramcharger does not.) Everyone else will follow the Ramcharger's lead, Kuniskis says.
The Advertiser
6 days ago
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
GM invests $1.4 billion in new V8 following mass recall
General Motors (GM) has confirmed a second North American factory will begin making its new sixth-generation small-block V8, at the Tonawanda Propulsion plant in Buffalo, New York, from 2027. In start contrast to a broader global automotive industry that's investing heavily in electric powertrains a statement, GM said the US$888 million (A$1.377 billion) cost to build the new V8 in Buffalo represents "the largest single investment the company has ever made in an engine plant". It means the new engine will be produced in two locations, with the 87-year-old Flint Engine plant in Michigan also tooling up to build the new 'Gen VI' V8, which is set to power "full-size trucks and SUVs". Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "This new generation of engines is expected to deliver stronger performance than today's engines while benefiting fuel economy and reducing emissions," said the US automaker in a statement this week. "New combustion and thermal management innovations are a key factor driving these improvements." No further details – such as displacement, power, torque or fuel consumption – were announced. The new V8 was announced by GM in 2023 as a replacement for the current 'Gen V' engine introduced in 2013. Following its confirmation, GM dumped plans for a more powerful six-cylinder engine set to offer V8-rivalling power and capability. GM rival Stellantis – which owns rival brands including Dodge, Ram and Chrysler, among others – has since dropped its famed Hemi V8 in place of a 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder twin-turbo 'Hurricane' engine. The Hurricane was introduced in Australia with the 2025 Ram 1500 pickup, which competes with the Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado. Comments by Ram's returning global CEO Tim Kuniskis and US President Donald Trump's moves to wind back the country's emissions laws – effectively including a ban on the sale of new vehicles with internal combustion engines – have sparked rumours that Stellantis will restart Hemi V8 production. GM did not say which of its models will get the new V8, but it's set to replace the current engine under the bonnet of the Silverado and the GMC Yukon Denali large SUV recently released in Australia. The long-wheelbase Yukon XL, the GMC Sierra and the Chevrolet Suburban full-size SUVs will also be powered by the new V8 in the US. In the Australian-spec Silverado 1500 and Yukon, the current V8 produces 313kW/624Nm across all grades including the performance focussed Silverado ZR2 flagship. L87 6.2-litre V8-powered Silverados sold in Australia between 2021 and 2024 are part of a global recall announced earlier this month, impacting 9451 vehicles here and 721,000 worldwide. The recall does not include the MY25 Silverado nor the Yukon Denali in Australia. The announcement also comes after President Trump introduced wide-ranging tariffs – including automotive-specific tariffs – on imports into the US. The controversial tariffs – which came in April 2025 despite calls from GM, Ford and Stellantis to postpone their introduction – were designed to foster manufacturing in the US. GM has since said the tariffs will cost it US$5 billion (A$7.8bn) – with Ford saying the tariffs will cost it at least US$2.5 billion (A$3.89bn) – as it reorganises its manufacturing supply chain in response. "Our significant investments in GM's Tonawanda Propulsion plant show our commitment to strengthening American manufacturing and supporting jobs in the US," said GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra in a statement this week. "GM's Buffalo plant has been in operation for 87 years and is continuing to innovate the engines we build there to make them more fuel efficient and higher performing, which will help us deliver world-class trucks and SUVs to our customers for years to come." MORE: Everything Chevrolet Content originally sourced from: General Motors (GM) has confirmed a second North American factory will begin making its new sixth-generation small-block V8, at the Tonawanda Propulsion plant in Buffalo, New York, from 2027. In start contrast to a broader global automotive industry that's investing heavily in electric powertrains a statement, GM said the US$888 million (A$1.377 billion) cost to build the new V8 in Buffalo represents "the largest single investment the company has ever made in an engine plant". It means the new engine will be produced in two locations, with the 87-year-old Flint Engine plant in Michigan also tooling up to build the new 'Gen VI' V8, which is set to power "full-size trucks and SUVs". Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "This new generation of engines is expected to deliver stronger performance than today's engines while benefiting fuel economy and reducing emissions," said the US automaker in a statement this week. "New combustion and thermal management innovations are a key factor driving these improvements." No further details – such as displacement, power, torque or fuel consumption – were announced. The new V8 was announced by GM in 2023 as a replacement for the current 'Gen V' engine introduced in 2013. Following its confirmation, GM dumped plans for a more powerful six-cylinder engine set to offer V8-rivalling power and capability. GM rival Stellantis – which owns rival brands including Dodge, Ram and Chrysler, among others – has since dropped its famed Hemi V8 in place of a 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder twin-turbo 'Hurricane' engine. The Hurricane was introduced in Australia with the 2025 Ram 1500 pickup, which competes with the Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado. Comments by Ram's returning global CEO Tim Kuniskis and US President Donald Trump's moves to wind back the country's emissions laws – effectively including a ban on the sale of new vehicles with internal combustion engines – have sparked rumours that Stellantis will restart Hemi V8 production. GM did not say which of its models will get the new V8, but it's set to replace the current engine under the bonnet of the Silverado and the GMC Yukon Denali large SUV recently released in Australia. The long-wheelbase Yukon XL, the GMC Sierra and the Chevrolet Suburban full-size SUVs will also be powered by the new V8 in the US. In the Australian-spec Silverado 1500 and Yukon, the current V8 produces 313kW/624Nm across all grades including the performance focussed Silverado ZR2 flagship. L87 6.2-litre V8-powered Silverados sold in Australia between 2021 and 2024 are part of a global recall announced earlier this month, impacting 9451 vehicles here and 721,000 worldwide. The recall does not include the MY25 Silverado nor the Yukon Denali in Australia. The announcement also comes after President Trump introduced wide-ranging tariffs – including automotive-specific tariffs – on imports into the US. The controversial tariffs – which came in April 2025 despite calls from GM, Ford and Stellantis to postpone their introduction – were designed to foster manufacturing in the US. GM has since said the tariffs will cost it US$5 billion (A$7.8bn) – with Ford saying the tariffs will cost it at least US$2.5 billion (A$3.89bn) – as it reorganises its manufacturing supply chain in response. "Our significant investments in GM's Tonawanda Propulsion plant show our commitment to strengthening American manufacturing and supporting jobs in the US," said GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra in a statement this week. "GM's Buffalo plant has been in operation for 87 years and is continuing to innovate the engines we build there to make them more fuel efficient and higher performing, which will help us deliver world-class trucks and SUVs to our customers for years to come." MORE: Everything Chevrolet Content originally sourced from: General Motors (GM) has confirmed a second North American factory will begin making its new sixth-generation small-block V8, at the Tonawanda Propulsion plant in Buffalo, New York, from 2027. In start contrast to a broader global automotive industry that's investing heavily in electric powertrains a statement, GM said the US$888 million (A$1.377 billion) cost to build the new V8 in Buffalo represents "the largest single investment the company has ever made in an engine plant". It means the new engine will be produced in two locations, with the 87-year-old Flint Engine plant in Michigan also tooling up to build the new 'Gen VI' V8, which is set to power "full-size trucks and SUVs". Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "This new generation of engines is expected to deliver stronger performance than today's engines while benefiting fuel economy and reducing emissions," said the US automaker in a statement this week. "New combustion and thermal management innovations are a key factor driving these improvements." No further details – such as displacement, power, torque or fuel consumption – were announced. The new V8 was announced by GM in 2023 as a replacement for the current 'Gen V' engine introduced in 2013. Following its confirmation, GM dumped plans for a more powerful six-cylinder engine set to offer V8-rivalling power and capability. GM rival Stellantis – which owns rival brands including Dodge, Ram and Chrysler, among others – has since dropped its famed Hemi V8 in place of a 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder twin-turbo 'Hurricane' engine. The Hurricane was introduced in Australia with the 2025 Ram 1500 pickup, which competes with the Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado. Comments by Ram's returning global CEO Tim Kuniskis and US President Donald Trump's moves to wind back the country's emissions laws – effectively including a ban on the sale of new vehicles with internal combustion engines – have sparked rumours that Stellantis will restart Hemi V8 production. GM did not say which of its models will get the new V8, but it's set to replace the current engine under the bonnet of the Silverado and the GMC Yukon Denali large SUV recently released in Australia. The long-wheelbase Yukon XL, the GMC Sierra and the Chevrolet Suburban full-size SUVs will also be powered by the new V8 in the US. In the Australian-spec Silverado 1500 and Yukon, the current V8 produces 313kW/624Nm across all grades including the performance focussed Silverado ZR2 flagship. L87 6.2-litre V8-powered Silverados sold in Australia between 2021 and 2024 are part of a global recall announced earlier this month, impacting 9451 vehicles here and 721,000 worldwide. The recall does not include the MY25 Silverado nor the Yukon Denali in Australia. The announcement also comes after President Trump introduced wide-ranging tariffs – including automotive-specific tariffs – on imports into the US. The controversial tariffs – which came in April 2025 despite calls from GM, Ford and Stellantis to postpone their introduction – were designed to foster manufacturing in the US. GM has since said the tariffs will cost it US$5 billion (A$7.8bn) – with Ford saying the tariffs will cost it at least US$2.5 billion (A$3.89bn) – as it reorganises its manufacturing supply chain in response. "Our significant investments in GM's Tonawanda Propulsion plant show our commitment to strengthening American manufacturing and supporting jobs in the US," said GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra in a statement this week. "GM's Buffalo plant has been in operation for 87 years and is continuing to innovate the engines we build there to make them more fuel efficient and higher performing, which will help us deliver world-class trucks and SUVs to our customers for years to come." MORE: Everything Chevrolet Content originally sourced from: General Motors (GM) has confirmed a second North American factory will begin making its new sixth-generation small-block V8, at the Tonawanda Propulsion plant in Buffalo, New York, from 2027. In start contrast to a broader global automotive industry that's investing heavily in electric powertrains a statement, GM said the US$888 million (A$1.377 billion) cost to build the new V8 in Buffalo represents "the largest single investment the company has ever made in an engine plant". It means the new engine will be produced in two locations, with the 87-year-old Flint Engine plant in Michigan also tooling up to build the new 'Gen VI' V8, which is set to power "full-size trucks and SUVs". Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "This new generation of engines is expected to deliver stronger performance than today's engines while benefiting fuel economy and reducing emissions," said the US automaker in a statement this week. "New combustion and thermal management innovations are a key factor driving these improvements." No further details – such as displacement, power, torque or fuel consumption – were announced. The new V8 was announced by GM in 2023 as a replacement for the current 'Gen V' engine introduced in 2013. Following its confirmation, GM dumped plans for a more powerful six-cylinder engine set to offer V8-rivalling power and capability. GM rival Stellantis – which owns rival brands including Dodge, Ram and Chrysler, among others – has since dropped its famed Hemi V8 in place of a 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder twin-turbo 'Hurricane' engine. The Hurricane was introduced in Australia with the 2025 Ram 1500 pickup, which competes with the Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado. Comments by Ram's returning global CEO Tim Kuniskis and US President Donald Trump's moves to wind back the country's emissions laws – effectively including a ban on the sale of new vehicles with internal combustion engines – have sparked rumours that Stellantis will restart Hemi V8 production. GM did not say which of its models will get the new V8, but it's set to replace the current engine under the bonnet of the Silverado and the GMC Yukon Denali large SUV recently released in Australia. The long-wheelbase Yukon XL, the GMC Sierra and the Chevrolet Suburban full-size SUVs will also be powered by the new V8 in the US. In the Australian-spec Silverado 1500 and Yukon, the current V8 produces 313kW/624Nm across all grades including the performance focussed Silverado ZR2 flagship. L87 6.2-litre V8-powered Silverados sold in Australia between 2021 and 2024 are part of a global recall announced earlier this month, impacting 9451 vehicles here and 721,000 worldwide. The recall does not include the MY25 Silverado nor the Yukon Denali in Australia. The announcement also comes after President Trump introduced wide-ranging tariffs – including automotive-specific tariffs – on imports into the US. The controversial tariffs – which came in April 2025 despite calls from GM, Ford and Stellantis to postpone their introduction – were designed to foster manufacturing in the US. GM has since said the tariffs will cost it US$5 billion (A$7.8bn) – with Ford saying the tariffs will cost it at least US$2.5 billion (A$3.89bn) – as it reorganises its manufacturing supply chain in response. "Our significant investments in GM's Tonawanda Propulsion plant show our commitment to strengthening American manufacturing and supporting jobs in the US," said GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra in a statement this week. "GM's Buffalo plant has been in operation for 87 years and is continuing to innovate the engines we build there to make them more fuel efficient and higher performing, which will help us deliver world-class trucks and SUVs to our customers for years to come." MORE: Everything Chevrolet Content originally sourced from:
Reuters
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- Reuters
Stellantis dealers pin US turnaround hopes on new CEO
DETROIT, May 28 (Reuters) - U.S. dealers of Jeep SUVs and Ram pickup trucks are pinning their hopes on new Stellantis ( opens new tab CEO Antonio Filosa to turn around months of disappointing sales and weakening trust. The 51-year-old Italian national, named on Wednesday to run the global automaker, has already had plenty of facetime with U.S. dealers as chief operating officer of the Americas since December, when Carlos Tavares abruptly quit as CEO. Sliding U.S. market share factored into Stellantis' search for a new leader. "He knows what he's doing. He has a manufacturing and quality background, which is important to us," said former Stellantis National Dealer Council Chairman Kevin Farrish of Filosa. Farrish was the top signature on a letter in September admonishing Tavares for a pricing strategy that retailers complained led to a steep sales decline. Tavares had pushed for cost cuts that alienated many car sellers, suppliers and unions. The company faced lawsuits from shareholders and unfair labor practice charges from the United Auto Workers union. Stellantis has since been working to repair these connections and lift the company's stock price and North American sales. It brought back longtime executives such as Ram Chief Tim Kuniskis to lead its brands. Filosa has been meeting with dealers around the country and is expected to speak with the Stellantis dealer council on Wednesday. The turnaround after Tavares' departure has been slow. First-quarter net revenues fell 14% year-over-year globally, and were down 25% in North America. Shipments in the region also faltered. Filosa is tasked with reversing this slump while facing billions in added costs from tariffs on imported cars that U.S. President Donald Trump implemented in April. Stellantis and some other automakers have suspended their annual guidance, citing uncertainty around the levies. The company in 2024 imported over 40% of the 1.2 million vehicles it sold in the United States, mostly from Mexico and Canada. Mark Trudell, general manager of Extreme Dodge Chrysler Jeep dealership in Jackson, Michigan, called Filosa's appointment the "right decision" at this time. "Everything I hear from the inside is that he knows the North America market better than his predecessor," Trudell said. Stellantis executives need to prioritize where to go with the electric-vehicle market and how to handle tariffs, he added. Thad Szott, dealer partner at Szott Auto Group, said Filosa came to his dealership in White Lake, Michigan, more than a year ago and talked to him for about an hour. "He has had a lot of experience, listens to U.S. dealer feedback, and I'm optimistic we will start taking U.S. market share back," Szott said.
Car and Driver
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
Ram Teases 'Big Things' Coming on June 8, Possibly New V-8 TRX
Ram looks to make a "big" announcement on June 8, according to a social-media post. The Instagram video includes a caption that reads, "Fire up the engines—Big things are on the horizon. 06.08.25." Earlier this year, it was reported that Ram is bringing back the V-8-powered TRX, so its return is possibly being teased. Ram is gearing up to reveal something big on June 8, at least that's our takeaway after seeing a post on the brand's Instagram account. It includes a short video of Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis talking to Dave Sparks (a.k.a. "Heavy D" from the TV show Diesel Brothers). The two are standing next to a table full of coffee and snacks when what appears to be a jet-fighter pilot walks up and grabs a cookie off the table before complimenting Tim's jacket and walking away. Along with trying to decipher what the different elements in the video are teasing, the post includes this caption: "Fire up the engines—Big things are on the horizon. 06.08.25." Since Ram builds full-size pickup trucks and commercial vans, everything it does is technically big. Perhaps we're trying too hard to be Detective Benoit Blanc, but the mention of things—as in plural—might mean that Ram plans to announce multiple things. Could there be a diesel-related announcement? It's possible, considering Heavy D's cameo. Could we finally find out the name of Ram's forthcoming mid-size pickup? Sure, anything is possible. But regardless of either of those things being revealed, we think there's a good chance we could learn about the return of Hemi engines to the Ram 1500 lineup, including the V-8-powered TRX. View Photos Marc Urbano | Car and Driver What makes us feel so strongly about a TRX comeback? Well, other than it being a hunch, it was reported earlier this year that Ram plans to bring back the Hellcat-powered pickup. While that has yet to be confirmed, it could be part of the "big" announcement on Sunday, June 8. As for the truck itself, Kuniskis has previously said the next TRX would be more powerful than the last, which suggests it will have more than 702 horsepower. Perhaps the 797-hp Redeye version of the Hellcat V-8 could also come back from the dead. Eric Stafford Managing Editor, News Eric Stafford's automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual '97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a '90 Honda CRX Si. Read full bio
Motor 1
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
Is Ram Teasing the Hemi's Return?
Following the departure of much-loathed Stellantis head Carlos Tavares late last year, Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis told Motor1 that he wouldn't rule out a return of the beloved Hemi V-8 to the Ram 1500 pickup. Now, Ram is teasing a big reveal on June 8th. Could we see the return of the V-8? An Instagram post featuring Kuniskis, Diesel Brothers host Dave Sparks, and an actor dressed as a fighter pilot is cryptic, but the caption says "[f]ire up the engines—big things are on the horizon." In the comments, Sparks also said, "Ram is in very good hands with Tim." What does all this mean? We don't know, but the date— the 8th—in combination with Kuniskis' earlier comments has us wondering, perhaps hoping, that Ram will announce a return for the V-8 next month. Better still would be a revival of the Hellcat-powered Ram TRX, which was first rumored earlier this year . Ram last year dropped the 5.7-liter V-8 from its half-ton in favor of a twin-turbo straight-six, a move that Tavares apparently pushed for against the objections from other Stellantis execs. The brand also replaced the TRX with the RHO , which gets much of the same, dune-bashing running gear with a 540-horsepower version of the Stellantis straight-six. When we spoke with Kuniskis earlier this year, he said putting a Hemi back into the Ram 1500 wouldn't be the work of a moment. "Number one, the Hemi was never designed to run in that truck on that electrical architecture, so that's a huge challenge," he said. "They shut down production on that particular Hemi, the eTorque. There's supplier work because when you shut something down, suppliers shut down their assembly lines, and they switch to something else." He didn't say it was impossible, just that doing this would take time. Of course, Ram could have something else up its sleeve entirely, and it's just a coincidence that the reveal is set for June 8th... a Sunday. Thankfully, we won't have to wait long to find out. The Latest From Ram Ram Is Planning 25 New Products in 18 Months Stellantis Delays the Electric Ram 1500 and Ramcharger Again Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
