Rams CEO believes people don’t want compact truck in the US .

[First Sergeant]

I wish Ford would build a ‘Stripped’ Maverick.
2.0 L Turbo
5 Speed Stick shift.
RWD only!!!! You know, something
That actually requires real driving skills.

AM/FM Radio, CD player
Manual seats and windows.
Bring back the ‘Wing vents’
TWO Door and maybe an access cab model,
5 ft bed.
No nanny/lawyer crap
No back up cameras,
None of the new breed of toys.

Keep the air bags,
Power steering and power antilock brakes
Keep the A/C

And NO Infofriggentainment crap screwing up the lines of the dash.

Put some bias ply tires on and go nuts !
Kidding about the tires.

They could call it, The ‘Old Fart’ package
:’P

I like that idea! Would be a great inexpensive model for those on a tight budget. Better than buying a used truck that has been ran to death. Not sure, but I think the gub-mint mandated the backup camera.

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[Glen Baker LLC]

I wish Ford would build a ‘Stripped’ Maverick.
2.0 L Turbo
5 Speed Stick shift.
RWD only!!!! You know, something
That actually requires real driving skills.

AM/FM Radio, CD player
Manual seats and windows.
Bring back the ‘Wing vents’
TWO Door and maybe an access cab model,
5 ft bed.
No nanny/lawyer crap
No back up cameras,
None of the new breed of toys.

Keep the air bags,
Power steering and power antilock brakes
Keep the A/C

And NO Infofriggentainment crap screwing up the lines of the dash.

Put some bias ply tires on and go nuts !
Kidding about the tires.

They could call it, The ‘Old Fart’ package
:’P

A few things come to mind reading your post. "BigClydeLittleTruck" is right on the money.

It sounds like you're really after a 1995 Ranger!

And I agree.
As far as it happening...

OR when...

 

[Blue_Max]

Ford sold 45,333 Mustangs in 2025 (up from 37,485 in 2024). That's a little more than a "hobby, " methinks.

They used to sell 100,000 Mustangs a year, and that's when there were several other sporty coupes. Mustang has abandoned its original market by getting too expensive and too impractical.

 

[RR - All the way]

Which is still only 2.05% of their total sales. That's largely a hobby. Ford sold more Escapes than Mustangs and still cancelled the Escape. The Mustang lives solely on its history.

I pretty much agree. However, the profit margin per unit certainly favors the Mustang over the Escape. Profitability still matters in spite of numbers and contributes to its existence as well as history.

 

[Sticks]

Total Ford Sales in CY25: 2,204,124
F-Series: 828,832 - 37.6% of total
Maverick: 155,051 - 7.03% of total

He's not completely off base. If you aren't already in the market, is that 7% worth the investment?

It's a small slice of a much larger pie. Here are a couple other ways to frame the data:

• The Maverick outsold all of Dodge, Fiat, and Alfa Romeo combined
• The Maverick will have 100% market share in "small" trucks with the Santa Cruz discontinued

Ram only sold 431k trucks in 2025 -- nearly half that of the F-Series. [source]

 

[BLUEOVALRACER]

It's a small slice of a much larger pie. Here are a couple other ways to frame the data:

• The Maverick outsold all of Dodge, Fiat, and Alfa Romeo combined
• The Maverick will have 100% market share in "small" trucks with the Santa Cruz discontinued

Ram only sold 431k trucks in 2025 -- nearly half that of the F-Series. [source]

How many Rangers were Sold last Year? The Maverick outsells the Ranger like what 3-1?

 

[Cancunbadlands]

I guess is not the same RAM's CEO for Latinoamerica

RAM 700
RAM 1200
Both made in China, RAM rebadge logo

 

[d7602002]

The statement makes sense if you change the s on relies to a d. Then in essence he's saying that the truck relied on the tax credit (which is no more... Unless they brought it back as I don't read the news but once every few months) to make it 20k and that ain't happening so it's not worth it any longer.

 

[babytruk]

I guess is not the same RAM's CEO for Latinoamerica

Outside North America compact pickups are common. RAM, Chevy, VW etc.
Ford only sells the Maverick “inside” North America. If they put the Maverick head-to-head against the world of compact pickups, it would dominate.
do you think these companies talk to each other ?[/QUOTE]

 

[Pointyears]

Which is still only 2.05% of their total sales. That's largely a hobby. Ford sold more Escapes than Mustangs and still cancelled the Escape. The Mustang lives solely on its history.

Well, the Escape had the Bronco Sport as a (kinda) substitute so there's not really an apt comparison so there's bound to be other factors at play.

Outside North America compact pickups are common. RAM, Chevy, VW etc.
Ford only sells the Maverick “inside” North America. If they put the Maverick head-to-head against the world of compact pickups, it would dominate.
do you think these companies talk to each other ?

[/QUOTE]
I have a vague memory when Ford cancelled the last generation of the Ranger in the US, that Ford still had an Indian(?) compact truck that lived on. (That cancellation allowed me to sell my 2005 Ranger in 2014 for 75% of what I paid for it. Yayy supply and demand.)

 

[Schaal701]

Stellantis claims no one wants a tiny, cheap Ram truck.

The electric Slate truck seems too good to be true with its $20,000 price tag because it’s too spartan. For that price, you don’t even get a radio.

To make the Slate EV truck worth it, drivers will be adding plenty of features and tech to improve its performance and comfort. Plus, the truck relies on the $7,500 federal EV tax credits to come close to the $20,000 price mark.

Ram CEO, Tim Kuniskis points out that In reality, the Slate truck could cost between $25,00 to $35,000, entering mid-size truck territory.

Therefore, Stellantis assumes no one will want a cheap compact truck. The idea of building a cheap Ram truck like the Slate model has been considered ‘a million times’. However, by the time it’s properly equipped, it won’t be competitive.

They already have a small RAM in Mexico and VmCentral America that they could evolve from.

 

[MarcoG]

Stellantis claims no one wants a tiny, cheap Ram truck.

The electric Slate truck seems too good to be true with its $20,000 price tag because it’s too spartan. For that price, you don’t even get a radio.

To make the Slate EV truck worth it, drivers will be adding plenty of features and tech to improve its performance and comfort. Plus, the truck relies on the $7,500 federal EV tax credits to come close to the $20,000 price mark.

Ram CEO, Tim Kuniskis points out that In reality, the Slate truck could cost between $25,00 to $35,000, entering mid-size truck territory.

Therefore, Stellantis assumes no one will want a cheap compact truck. The idea of building a cheap Ram truck like the Slate model has been considered ‘a million times’. However, by the time it’s properly equipped, it won’t be competitive.

I think he's right. The average Mav price is likely 32 to 34k. I don't hink he's saying no one wants it. I think he's saying very few want a stripped down one. I do think people want an electric truck with minimum 250 to 300 miles in the 30s, especially if they have another car. I thonk that's what Ford is developing now on a new flexible platform. If that comes, you can kiss slate bye-bye.

 

[Thunderbruce]

Stellantis claims no one wants a tiny, cheap Ram truck.

The electric Slate truck seems too good to be true with its $20,000 price tag because it’s too spartan. For that price, you don’t even get a radio.

To make the Slate EV truck worth it, drivers will be adding plenty of features and tech to improve its performance and comfort. Plus, the truck relies on the $7,500 federal EV tax credits to come close to the $20,000 price mark.

Ram CEO, Tim Kuniskis points out that In reality, the Slate truck could cost between $25,00 to $35,000, entering mid-size truck territory.

Therefore, Stellantis assumes no one will want a cheap compact truck. The idea of building a cheap Ram truck like the Slate model has been considered ‘a million times’. However, by the time it’s properly equipped, it won’t be competitive.

What RAM doesn't understand is the majority of people looking to buy the Slate are doing so BECAUSE they want it sparse and cheap with no bells & whistles. Radio? Their phone and a blu-tooth speaker solves that. Navigation? See radio...

 

[CMYSIX]

And I should care what the CEO of another car company thinks? Because?

 

[carolynann831]

They used to sell 100,000 Mustangs a year, and that's when there were several other sporty coupes. Mustang has abandoned its original market by getting too expensive and too impractical.

Stellantis claims no one wants a tiny, cheap Ram truck.

The electric Slate truck seems too good to be true with its $20,000 price tag because it’s too spartan. For that price, you don’t even get a radio.

To make the Slate EV truck worth it, drivers will be adding plenty of features and tech to improve its performance and comfort. Plus, the truck relies on the $7,500 federal EV tax credits to come close to the $20,000 price mark.

Ram CEO, Tim Kuniskis points out that In reality, the Slate truck could cost between $25,00 to $35,000, entering mid-size truck territory.

Therefore, Stellantis assumes no one will want a cheap compact truck. The idea of building a cheap Ram truck like the Slate model has been considered ‘a million times’. However, by the time it’s properly equipped, it won’t be competitive.

Tell that to Car and Driver who named the Maverick truck of the year.

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