While Ford is sitting pretty in the top spot for 2019 pickup truck sales with 896,526 F-150s sold, a battle broke out for the second-place spot. For the first time ever, the Ram pickup has overtaken the Chevy Silverado to grab the number two spot. FCA reported an increase of 18% in sales from 2018 for a total of 633,694 Ram pickups sold in 2019. In comparison, General Motors sold 575,600 Chevy Silverados which is a 1.7% decrease from the previous year. How noteworthy is this accomplishment for FCA? To put it into perspective, Ram was the underdog in 2017, selling 500,723 pickups compared to Chevy's 585,864 Silverados.
According to Detroit News, a supply shortage and a 40-day UAW strike against GM was only part of the automaker's struggle in selling the Silverado. In addition to the supply challenges, the drop in sales was the result of a decrease in demand for GM's best-selling pickup, which may be attributed to inferior styling and tech compared to the redesigned Ram 1500.
Ram's win is certainly a cause for celebration for FCA, but is it also a cause for concern on GM's front? Not necessarily. The automaker is still ahead of FCA for overall pickup truck sales with GMC trucks factored in. Additionally, pricing advantages and discounts on older models like the Ram Classic helped boost FCA to the second-place spot. According to Cox Automotive, FCA's average discount was $6,837 per Ram truck, compared to Chevy's $5,562 for each Silverado.
Discounts and incentives may have helped move Ram trucks off the lot, but we can't dismiss the significant improvements FCA has made to the lineup. The new Ram 1500 offers handsome styling, luxurious interiors, and innovative tech, all of which contributed to the brand's successful year. The popular 1500 got a redesign in 2019 to offer an exterior style that is bold and masculine with a less blocky front end and a new grille. The higher trims offer an upscale appearance, and for a more aggressive exterior and sporty interior, shoppers can choose the off-road-focused Ram 1500 Rebel.
After driving three different trims of the 2019 Ram 1500 (the Rebel, Laramie Longhorn, and Big Horn) we found that Ram has the best looking cabins in the segment. The higher trims feature opulent interiors with materials like fine leather and real wood. The crew cab models also offer the most interior space in the class, meaning the front and second-row passengers can ride in comfort.
FCA claims a strategy of investing in technology helped them claim the number two spot for truck sales. Looking at the tech in the Ram 1500, we would have to agree. The most noteworthy piece of technology is Ram's optional 12-inch touchscreen with Uconnect. The user-friendly split-screen lets you toggle between navigation and audio while a collection of physical controls accompany the touchscreen for ease of use.
The list of reasons to choose the Ram pickup doesn't end with cosmetic and tech upgrades. It is also better to drive and more capable than before. The Ram 1500 gets two updated engines in the redesign including a 305 horsepower 3.6-liter V6 and a 395 horsepower 5.7-liter HEMI V8 with
In addition to the smooth, comfortable ride and increased capability, the Ram 1500 also gives drivers confidence thanks to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick+ award and automated safety features like brake-assist and front-collision avoidance. When we tally up Ram's improvements in style, driving experience, capability, and safety, it's easy to see why it was finally able to surpass its rival, the Chevy Silverado.
