Dodge Ram Display is seen at the New York International Auto Show on April 16, 2025.
Danielle Devries | CNBC
Detroit – Ram Trucks plans to introduce a cutting -edge warranty in its range of 2026 vehicles this year as part of an 18 -month recovery plan for the Stelllantis– Brand.
The warranty covers the engine, the transmission, the transfer box, the transmission trees, the differentials and the axles for 10 years or 100,000 miles, depending on the first possibility. It replaces the current five -year or 60,000 mile of RAM warranty, which is relatively standard for full -size vans in the automotive industry.
The new guarantee comes while vehicles – especially vans – have become more expensive in recent years, which often leads to longer funding which extends far beyond the guarantees of the vehicles themselves.
“Eighty-five percent of truck buyers finance for seven years or more. They keep it for 12 years because everything has become more expensive,” said Tim Kuniskis, CEO of RAM, during a media event. “But you know what has not changed? No one has changed the guarantee. They are investing more and more money in your brand, but you don’t invest more money to protect them.”
Edmunds.com analysts report that 84 -month -old loans for new car buyers reached a 19.8% summit in the first quarter, while 67.4% of new vehicle financing loans took place between 60 months and 75 months.
The CEO of RAM, Tim Kuniskis, during a media event, to reintroduce the HEMI V-8 engine at the North American headquarters of Stellantis in June 2025.
Michael Wayland / CNBC
Kuniskis, who heads the brand’s recovery plan after insufficient in December, said that he thought that the new offer would help keep current customers, attract new and potentially regain former owners who may have left the brand in recent years.
“We believe that this will be an important decision in the right direction,” said Kuniskis, whose brand has experienced a drop in sales of around 38% since record results in 2019. “It will be the best truck guarantee of the company.”
Ford engine And General Motors’ The GMC and Chevrolet brands – the main sellers of full -size vans before Stellantis – as well as Toyota Motor Currently offer five years or 60,000 miles of limited powered powered powered motorcycle guarantee guarantees. Some diesel models offer higher guarantees.
Kuniskis said that the 100,000 mile / 10 year warranty offer could be extended this year, pending acceptance and popularity among customers.
“If the reception is good, our complete intention is to continue to move forward after the end of the year,” Kuniskis told CNBC during a recent interview.
Providing longer -term guarantees can cost automakers from billions of dollars if vehicles produced en masse end up having quality problems, but Kuniskis said that the rewards won over the risks.
“The guarantees still have an inherent risk,” he said. “What we have determined, however, is that the client’s perceived value prevails over what our increased cost will be.”
Longer guarantees can also mean that customers keep their vehicles longer, which means less potential sales in the coming years.
The limited guarantee of the Motopropulseur group is applicable to the original owner of RAM trucks and van of the 2026 model year, including its range of chassis cabins. It includes retail purchases and leases to individuals and businesses, and excludes fleet purchases as well as its RAM Promaster electric van.
A motorcycle group guarantee at 10 years / 100,000 is not unprecedented for the automotive industry. For example, the South Korean manufacturer Kia offers it through its range of new vehicles.