Are Dodge and Ram the same thing?
No. Ram is a standalone brand focused on trucks and commercial vehicles, while Dodge remains a broader brand for passenger cars and performance models.
Historical context
The relationship between Dodge and Ram has evolved over decades. Ram began as a badge used on Dodge trucks and, over time, grew into its own distinct identity. In the wake of Chrysler's restructuring around 2009–2010, Ram was separated from Dodge and launched as a dedicated truck brand. Since then, Dodge has continued to offer passenger cars and performance-oriented models, while Ram has concentrated on pickups and commercial vans.
Origins of the Ram name
The Ram name originated as a badge on Dodge pickup trucks and became a symbol associated with the heavy-duty truck lineup. It gradually evolved from a model designation to the branding used for an entire truck-focused lineup.
Transition to a separate brand
During the Chrysler Group reorganization announced around 2009, Ram was established as its own brand for the 2010 model year and beyond. Dodge continued to market passenger cars and some sport-utility vehicles, while Ram handled the truck and commercial-vehicle portfolio. The arrangement persisted through FCA and into Stellantis, the company formed after the merger that year.
Current branding and product focus
Today, Ram Trucks operates as a distinct brand within Stellantis, concentrating on pickups, heavy-duty trucks, and commercial vans. Dodge remains the brand for performance cars and family-friendly SUVs, with models like the Challenger, Charger, and Durango continuing to carry the Dodge badge.
Key differences in focus and product lines:
- Product focus: Ram is centered on trucks and commercial vehicles; Dodge centers on passenger cars, performance models, and sport-oriented SUVs.
- Vehicle lineup: Ram offers light-to-heavy-duty pickups (e.g., Ram 1500, 2500, 3500) and vans (ProMaster); Dodge offers performance cars (Challenger, Charger) and SUVs (Durango) plus other passenger vehicles.
- Brand positioning: Ram is positioned as a premium truck brand within Stellantis; Dodge is a performance- and value-oriented mainstream brand.
- Corporate structure: Both brands operate under Stellantis as separate brands with shared engineering resources.
Concluding paragraph: The Ram and Dodge brands function independently within Stellantis, each with a clear product focus, but they share corporate roots and engineering capabilities that enable cross-brand technology and components where appropriate.
How the brands relate today
In practice, there is collaboration behind the scenes—shared platforms and powertrains appear across the group—yet the market-facing identities remain distinct. This separation helps Stellantis tailor products to different customer needs while leveraging common technology.
Key shared elements:
- Shared platforms and engines within the Stellantis ecosystem (e.g., V8 powertrains on both Ram trucks and Dodge performance cars).
- Common dealer networks, parts supply, and service infrastructure across brands.
- Unified corporate governance under Stellantis, with brand-specific marketing and product planning.
Concluding paragraph: The Dodge-Ram distinction is about brand identity and market focus rather than a single product line. Each brand targets different buyer personas, while the company benefits from shared engineering and scale.
Common questions
People often ask whether a Dodge Ram is still a thing or if Ram badges appear on Dodge vehicles. Since the separation, official branding uses Ram for the trucks and Dodge for the passenger/performance lineup. Some consumers may still colloquially reference the trucks as "Dodge Ram," a nod to the historical naming, but that used to be the brand configuration rather than current practice.
Concluding paragraph: Understanding the distinction helps buyers navigate the lineup and marketing, recognizing Ram as the standalone truck brand within Stellantis and Dodge as the broader performance-oriented brand.
Summary: Dodge and Ram are not the same brand. Ram is a dedicated truck-focused brand under Stellantis, while Dodge remains a broader, performance- and passenger-oriented brand. They share corporate roots and some technology, but they serve different market segments with distinct product lineups.
Is Ram basically Dodge?
In decades past, Ram trucks were simply models within the Dodge lineup. This changed in 2010. In that year, Chrysler and its brands merged with the Italian automaker, FIAT. The resulting parent company, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, chose to spin off Ram into its own brand.
Is the Dodge Ram not Dodge anymore?
The company dropped the “Dodge” in 2009, so all trucks made from this date forward were simply “RAM trucks”. And though Dodge and RAM are still part of the same company, the trucks are labeled solely as RAM.
Why is Ram not part of Dodge?
Dodge now focuses on performance cars, while Ram makes trucks and commercial vehicles. This move has worked well for both brands. Ram, now its own brand under Stellantis, keeps making popular trucks like the Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500.
Why is it called Ram instead of Dodge?
Dodge Ram was created in 1981. "Dodge" was the brand and "Ram" was the model at the time. It wasn't until 2010 that Ram became its own brand. At this time was when Ram no longer carried the Dodge name.
