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Ram announces 10-year, 100K-mile powertrain warranty on new vehicles
Offering coverage for 10 years and 100,000 miles, Ram is announcing its latest powertrain warranty as "America's best."
The idea for a more expansive warranty, said Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis, came from looking at the timelines of leases on new trucks.
"Truck buyers are financing purchases for longer periods of time, with nearly 80% of new truck loans exceeding five years,' Kuniskis said.
As leasing timelines also go up — and prices of trucks rise, too — Kuniskis said the brand hopes to offer an expansive warranty that will entice buyers to consider Ram when they are purchasing their next truck.
The powertrain warranty, which will apply to the original owner of 2026 and later model years of Ram vehicles, is not bumper-to-bumper. It covers the engine, transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, differentials, and axles of the vehicle.
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Ram's previous powertrain warranty was exactly in line with its competitors, General Motors and Ford Motor Co. Previously, Ram, GM and Ford all offered powertrain warranties of five years of coverage or 60 thousand miles, whichever came first.
At a private media event on June 3, Kuniskis originally stated that the brand planned to offer the warranty only for its light-duty pickups. Since the preview event, Ram has decided to go all in on offering the warranty for all of its vehicles, except for those sold in fleets.
Stephanie Brinley, associate director of Auto Intelligence at S&P Global Mobility, said the broader warranty can "provide some peace of mind as loans extend to longer and longer payments," noting that other automakers, like Hyundai, have used longer warranty offers to boost consumer confidence.
According to Brinley, it's not certain that the new offer will immediately result in more Ram vehicles on the road, but it might help.
"The warranty is not a magic bullet that skyrockets sales, but it can increase consideration for conquest buyers and help hold brand loyalists," Brinley said.
The announcement is the fourth piece of news in a marathon of product releases that Kuniskis has spearheaded. Most notably, Ram has announced intentions to bring back the Hemi engine, along with a return to the NASCAR truck series, announced with a prototype race truck doing doughnuts at the Michigan International Speedway.
With this latest announcement, Kunisikis said, "Ram is making a stronger and longer commitment to our customers.'
Liam Rappleye covers Stellantis and the UAW for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him: LRappleye@
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ram announces 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty on new vehicles
