In 2009, Dodge made a split with the Ram name, making Ram its own brand in the automotive industry. However, these vehicles were still registered as a Dodge. With the release of the 2013 lineup that goes into production this fall, the Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500, as well as the Chassis Cab, C/V, and Commercial lines will have their vehicle identification numbers coded to reflect the Ram branding.
This change will finally be made because, for the first time, the only name to appear on the new models will be Ram. No badges on these vehicles will feature the Dodge name.
Since becoming a separate division, the sales for Ram trucks and Ram truck accessories has steadily increased due to the improved focus by engineers and others involved in the design process. Dodge had become over saturated through the years with the production of other vehicles such as the Challenger, Charger, Durango, and the rest of the Dodge lineup. The widespread focus in turn weakened the presence of the trucks and commercial lines, especially when competing with other automotive giants such as Ford and Chevrolet. With Ram being able to solely target the pick-ups, chassis-cabs, and commercial style minivans, positive impact on and from the consumer market is obvious.
With new registration coding and improved focus to make Ram more individualized in the automotive industry, we will soon see what changes are in store. It has been promised that the Ram half-ton and heavy-duty's DNA will basically remain the same. As far as other changes in the newest lineup, we can only wait to see what will evolve. The future for Ram is very promising, not only for the designers and planners, but for the consumers as well.