We Hear: FCA Sees Potential for Two Midsize Pickups

At the New York auto show, Jeep and Ram boss Mike Manley told The Detroit News that a second midsize pickup could eventually be offered alongside the confirmed Wrangler-based pickup destined for the Jeep brand. The executive didn’t confirm plans for a midsize Ram truck, but said that there’s “opportunity” in the U.S. and in global markets for the brand to expand into that segment.

“I think there’s opportunity there in the U.S. if you look at what’s happened in the midsize segment here – significant growth last year,” said Manley in an interview with The Detroit News. “I think that space is big enough, certainly, to have two offerings there.” The executive also stated that he’s been encouraged by recent growth in the midsize truck segment in the U.S. with GM’s Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon and Toyota’s new Tacoma.

Manley, however, wouldn’t provide a timeframe for the trucks or confirm if both Jeep and Ram will have a midsize pickup by 2020. The executive did say that Bob Hegbloom, the new head of Ram International, is traveling to Brazil to discuss opportunities for Ram to work with Fiat, and that there’s potential for Ram to use a Fiat platform for a truck. In global markets, Fiat offers compact pickups including the Toro, which was recently launched in Brazil.

In the U.S., Manley doesn’t believe a Ram midsize truck would compete for the same customers as a Jeep pickup, which was recently confirmed for production at the Toledo, Ohio plant alongside the old- and next-generation Wrangler.

Source: The Detroit News

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