by A Split Not Forgotten
It has been over 16 years since the late Sergio Marchionne made the polarizing decision to split Dodge and Ram into two separate entities. Dodge focused on muscle cars, SUVs, and minivans, while Ram became a standalone truck brand. However, the name “Dodge Ram” never truly faded among enthusiasts, raising questions about the feasibility of reuniting the two brands.
The Boss’s Opinion
Tim Kuniskis, the current CEO of Ram and former head of Dodge, was asked about this confusion during an interview. Remarkably, the official admitted that he himself is among those who still use the name Dodge Ram, and he is completely at ease with it.
I mess it up all the time. All the time. I remember when we first started talking about creating a reality show for NASCAR, and I met with Dana White. We were so lucky he wanted to help us with this program. He said “Dodge Ram” and actually asked – without directly asking – if it was a problem. I told him no, I do it all the time myself. Everyone does it. The whole world loves Dodge Ram. Everyone understands what Dodge Ram is. It’s one and the same.
While brand confusion usually gives marketing departments a headache, Kuniskis does not see it as a problem. Instead, the Ram boss describes it as “a reflection of how deeply ingrained the brand identity is with customers.”
A Possible Reunion?
When asked directly whether Stellantis should merge Dodge and Ram, Kuniskis replied: “They’re all in the same company. Yeah, we could do that. And frankly, if we did, nobody would really care.”
He believes Stellantis customers would be more interested in other news: “I think we’d get more enthusiasm from an announcement of 10,000 HEMI orders than from a message that Dodge Ram is back. Because everyone would say: ‘What do you mean? I thought it already was.’ It would be a non-event.”
Nevertheless, the Ram CEO seems open to the idea of a merger, depending on public reaction: “I would be incredibly curious to see what kind of feedback that gets. Do people get excited about it or not?”
The Current State of Affairs
In other words, if enough people truly care about bringing back the Dodge Ram name, an official reunion could eventually happen. Until then, the two brands will continue their “separate but shared” existence, utilizing the same dealer network and service technicians.
U.S. sales data for 2025 starkly highlights the huge gap between the two “brothers.” Ram continues to be the financial heavy artillery, with 431,670 units sold, while Dodge had a much tougher period, selling 101,927 vehicles.
Interestingly, despite the formal split, in the minds of many buyers and even in the everyday speech of executives, Dodge and Ram remain a single entity. This situation demonstrates the power of a brand’s historical legacy, which can be much stronger than corporate decisions. The sales volume difference between the brands also indicates that Ram’s niche as a truck manufacturer is significantly more stable and profitable compared to Dodge’s more niche product segment. The future will show whether the benefits of a single brand will outweigh the operational feasibility of the two divisions existing separately for the Stellantis conglomerate.
