'A super important market': Ram Australia continues record growth, but competition from Ford F-150 and Toyota Tundra looms

Ram Australia has received high praise from its international parent company after continuing its record growth in sales locally, having already made 2022 the highest-selling year for the brand in Australia.

According to industry data from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industry (FCAI), Ram has sold 4153 vehicles in Australia this year to the end of September, 45 per cent more than it has achieved in the same period last year: 2865 units.

Read More About Ram 1500

It's time: Why new left-hand drive-only cars like the Ford Bronco, Honda Integra, Dodge Challenger and Toyota Venza should be allowed to be registered in Australia Have electric cars ended the V8? Not so fast! Nissan Patrol, Ford Mustang and Ram 1500 prove there's still life in big, powerful petrol engines A new ute king for Australia? Ram to give 'dealers a sneak peek' of all-new 1200/Dakota as it readies for battle with Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger

This puts 2022 ahead of last year overall before the year is even up, with 4025 Rams having been sold in 2021, across Ram 1500, Ram 2500, and the few Ram 3500 models shifted.

Ram was a pioneer in Australia for the large American ute, or 'truck', and sales skyrocketed from mid-2018 after Ateco-owned American Special Vehicles (ASV) secured distribution rights for Down Under.

ASV works with Walkinshaw Group to right-hand-drive convert Ram models locally, and in the last four years has amassed 14,366 new registrations out of a total of 17,115 Ram vehicles sold in the country.

Bob Graczyk, Head of Ram International, has praised not only the growth of the brand locally, but the quality of local manufacturing too.

Mr Graczyk, who was previously sales director for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) Australia, said the Australian market is “super important” for the brand, and that the growth of RAM Australia has been “phenomenal”.

“Outside of the US, we sell more full-size pick-up trucks than Ford and GM combined, and Australia representing a market share of more than 70 per cent, is a big contributor of that,” said Mr Grazyk.

“It’s a dedicated group here that loves Ram and it comes through in everything they do in Australia, so we are super proud of having more than 17,000 people out there driving our trucks.

“I was in our Sterling Heights, US, plant a few weeks ago and yesterday I got into a right-hand drive RAM TRX for the first time – the truck that is coming off the line here in Australia is as good as what’s coming out of our main [Sterling Heights] plant.

“So, we’re 1000 per cent supportive of the remanufacturing process here, we work very closely with the team and provide whatever they need in terms support, CAD data etc, and have full confidence in the team here to protect our brand, and to protect our truck.”

Walkinshaw also manages right-hand drive conversions for Chevrolet Silverados in its Melbourne plant, however this year only 1530 Silverados have been sold, two less than the same time last year.

But the Ram 1500 will face new competition next year with the launch of the Ford F-150, the US' most popular model, which is being right-hand-drive remanufactured by RMA Holdings Group for the Blue Oval brand.

Toyota has also tapped Walkinshaw Group to help with the local conversion of its Tundra pick-up, which isn't expected to hit showrooms until late next year or early in 2024.