Is Dodge Ram an American car?
Yes. Ram pickups are American-made trucks produced by the Ram brand, which sits under Stellantis. The name “Dodge Ram” is largely historical; today the vehicles are marketed as Ram rather than Dodge Ram.
This article examines the branding history, current status, and where Ram trucks are built, to explain what “American” means in this context and how the name has evolved over time.
Branding history: from Dodge Ram to Ram
For many years, Ram pickups carried the Dodge badge as part of the Dodge lineup. In the 2010 model year era, Chrysler reorganized its truck division and launched a standalone Ram brand to market the pickups separately from Dodge. Since then, marketing has centered on the Ram name and logo, while Dodge focuses on cars and crossovers.
- The Dodge-era branding tied Ram trucks to the Dodge brand in the United States.
- Around 2009–2010, Ram Trucks became its own brand within Chrysler, later part of Stellantis.
- Today, the brand is officially called Ram, with the ram-head logo and no “Dodge” prefix on the trucks.
In practice, many people still use the term “Dodge Ram,” but the official branding has shifted to Ram. The change reflects a move toward a distinct pickup-truck identity tied to North American manufacturing and markets.
Manufacturing footprint and where Ram trucks are built
Ram trucks are produced primarily in North America, with assembly in U.S. and Mexican plants. Core production has historically involved sites in Michigan and Saltillo, Mexico, though exact plants can vary by model and generation.
- United States: a primary production site has long been the Sterling Heights Assembly Plant in Michigan for Ram 1500 variants.
- Mexico: certain Ram models, including some heavy-duty versions, have been produced at Saltillo plants in past generations.
- Global supply chains: modern Ram vehicles rely on parts sourced from around the world, reflecting typical automotive manufacturing practices.
Even as Ram operates under a multinational automaker, the vehicles are largely assembled in North America, reinforcing their American manufacturing identity.
Current Ram lineup and what counts as American in this context
The Ram lineup centers on pickup trucks and commercial vans, with models commonly associated with American road use and work fleets. The core consumer pick is the Ram 1500 (half-ton), complemented by the Ram 2500/3500 (heavy-duty) and the ProMaster cargo van for commercial applications.
Key models in the Ram lineup
Here are the main models that define today’s Ram offerings:
- Ram 1500 — the light-duty pickup
- Ram 2500/3500 — heavy-duty pickups
- Ram ProMaster — commercial cargo vans
These models illustrate Ram’s focus on North American buyers, with production aligned to the U.S. and Mexican manufacturing network rather than international markets alone.
What this means for the American identity of the brand
Even though Ram operates within a global automaker (Stellantis), the vehicles are designed, engineered, and largely manufactured in North America, which anchors their American automotive identity. The branding shift from “Dodge Ram” to a standalone Ram brand reflects a marketing choice as much as a corporate one, emphasizing trucks and commercial vans that have become staples of American roads and work culture.
In short, Ram trucks are American-made products with a long-standing place in U.S. automotive history, now marketed under a dedicated Ram brand rather than the Dodge prefix, while remaining part of a global automaker’s portfolio.
Summary
Ram pickups and vans are American-made vehicles produced primarily in North America, with a branding evolution from Dodge Ram to the standalone Ram brand. Although Ram operates within the multinational Stellantis group, the design, engineering, and manufacturing footprint of its trucks strongly anchor them to the United States and the broader North American market.
