Sad times, 2450 layoffs coming to the Warren plant.

[Willwork4truck]

Just read the news, with 3700 jobs there, thats a high percentage (66%).

edit-cutting the RAM Classic out. Layoffs sometime in October. That will reduce the plant down to 1 shift from 2 for trucks.

It’s curious that they are dropping the most “affordable” truck (avg msrp close to 50K) which goes mostly to fleets. My small city has dozens of white tradesman quad cab 2x’s in their yard…

So what is the entry level buyer of a new truck supposed to do?
Well, my neighbor just traded off his 2016 Bighorn for a 24’ base 4 cyl turbo Silverado. He got it for $10K off msrp of $49, and they gave him $6K for his trade (a 190,000 mile horrible lifter ticking hemi), so he got a new truck for $33K plus tax and fees. Another RAM buyer gone.

Of course the UAW will have negotiated a decent pay package for them and I don’t have any idea of how long it may last yet its another sign of Stellantis being in trouble.

 

[firecadet613]

Just read the news, with 3700 jobs there, thats a high percentage (66%).

edit-cutting the RAM Classic out. Layoffs sometime in October. That will reduce the plant down to 1 shift from 2 for trucks.

It’s curious that they are dropping the most “affordable” truck (avg msrp close to 50K) which goes mostly to fleets. My small city has dozens of white tradesman quad cab 2x’s in their yard…

So what is the entry level buyer of a new truck supposed to do?
Well, my neighbor just traded off his 2016 Bighorn for a 24’ base 4 cyl turbo Silverado. He got it for $10K off msrp of $49, and they gave him $6K for his trade (a 190,000 mile horrible lifter ticking hemi), so he got a new truck for $33K plus tax and fees. Another RAM buyer gone.

Of course the UAW will have negotiated a decent pay package for them and I don’t have any idea of how long it may last yet its another sign of Stellantis being in trouble.

Aside from Ram still making the classic, which manufacturer has continued to make the old style truck alongside the new one?

 

[Willwork4truck]

Aside from Ram still making the classic, which manufacturer has continued to make the old style truck alongside the new one?

Don't know of any yet the Classic sold well to fleets.
It seems like engineers and designers dont know how to go backwards on content and tech so as to reduce costs, thats what the Classic allowed.

Ford has the Ranger, GM the Colorado, they aren’t full sized so there‘s apparently still a need for a less expensive full sized truck.

Sometimes “decontenting” in order to reduce costs isn’t so bad, but people “want their cake and eat it too” with all the tech and complex drivetrains.

A lot of it is EPA/CAFE driven, I understand.

 

[Gillytickle]

They were going to make a Dakota sized truck at Belvedere and it's in the UAW contract but now Stellantis is saying "No".

 

[dajogejr]

Classic was simply never a long term plan.
Writing has been on the wall, those effected have had more than enough notification time, and those that aren’t moved elsewhere will get an incredible benefits package.

 

[Willwork4truck]

Website automotivedive.com said this: “Senior employees represented by the United Auto Workers will receive 52 weeks of supplemental unemployment benefits paid by Stellantis, as well as 52 weeks of transition assistance, the company said. These benefits are in addition to any state unemployment benefits workers may be eligible to receive. Displaced workers will also receive two years of healthcare coverage.“

So they will be taken care of.

 

[dajogejr]

Two years of possibly one of the best health care plans out… that’s a HUGE benefit to them.

 

[rick619]

I also don't really see the need to have two trucks that are so similar. Makes sense to eliminate the classic.

With inflation during the Biden term and post Covid, makes sense that less people want to commit to a new truck. I bought a fairly no frills new 2023 about four months ago and the sticker price was $61.8K. My wife wasn't exactly happy about that and I did consider buying used. Pulled the trigger when it was 20% off and she agreed just to shut me up haha.

My last F150 STX in 2018 was around $40K sticker. The Ram is nicer, but not $20K nicer. Somethings got to give and sounds like lower production is going to be the answer.

 

[SD Rebel]

Aside from Ram still making the classic, which manufacturer has continued to make the old style truck alongside the new one?

The Classic is really RAMs mid-size offering, at least in terms of pricing. But honestly surprised they made it this long, but I also assumed those workers would be transferred to whatever an actual small to mid-sized replacement, which if that happens, seems likely to be built in Mexico.

Other than my Rebel, which I adore, I'm not sure I'll be sticking around with RAM on my next truck, considering both the products and executive decisions at play right now.

 

[HSKR R/T]

Does this mean they are finally going to update the cab on the HD trucks?

 

[Biga]

The classic held on much longer than anyone else thought, they gradually cut the choices to just a tradesman and warlock models. Lots of shared parts, like the cab is still used on the HD trucks, probably the discontinuation of the Hemi lead to its ultimate demise.

 

[OCD Solutions]

IIRC, the Warren plant was to run until one of the new plants was up and running and then shutdown and retooled for new models like the reg cab shortbed in the new body style. But, what was planned and what actually happens are two different things...