Chrysler executives expected sales of the new Ram 1500 EcoDiesel to surge, but even they seem surprised by the overwhelming response to initial ordering. Within three days of opening ordering on Feb. 7, the company received more than 8,000 Ram 1500 diesel orders, which filled the initial ordering allocation Chrysler set for the vehicle and the new 3.0-liter EcoDiesel engine.
DETROIT, MI- Chrysler executives expected sales of the new Ram 1500 EcoDiesel to surge, but even they might be surprised by the overwhelming response to initial ordering.
Within three days of opening ordering on Feb. 7, the company received more than 8,000 Ram 1500 diesel orders, which filled the initial ordering allocation Chrysler set for the vehicle and its new 3.0-liter EcoDiesel engine.
Chrysler attributed the ordering surge to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency certifying the full-size pickup at 28 miles per gallon on the highway.
“It’s every truck manufacturer’s dream to have this kind of initial order demand for a product,” said Reid Bigland, Ram president and CEO. “Fuel economy is the No. 1 request of half-ton buyers and the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel delivers without compromising capability.”
The new engine, which Bigland previously described to MLive as a “differentiator,” also packs 420 lb.-ft. of torque and up to 9,200 pounds of towing capability.
Chrysler, according to a Ram spokesman, may increase the monthly allocation amount if demand for the vehicle, which was strongly driven by customer ordering, continues. Officials said orders continue to come in, but did not have a specific amount since the initial three days.
Production of the 2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel began in February. Shipping is expected in March, which is months later than Chrysler’s initial plans of late-2013.
2014 Ram 1500 (courtesy image)Although the company has reached its first planned order allocation numbers in three days, customers who special order the new truck will have priority in the build. The next order distribution, according to Chrysler, will begin in early-March. To order one of the pickups, customers should visit their local certified Chrysler dealer.
The vehicle’s engine is mated with the eight-speed automatic transmission and manufactured by VM Motori, an Italian diesel engine supplier for Chrysler since 1992.
The Ram 1500 diesel is available in most trim levels. The diesel model is priced at $2,850 greater than a similarly equipped Ram 1500 with a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with eight-speed transmission, which starts at about $25,000.
The 2014 Ram 1500 is built at Chrysler's Warren Truck Assembly Plant. Regular Cab models of the 2014 Ram 1500 are built at the Saltillo Truck Assembly Plant in Saltillo, Mexico.
Michael Wayland covers the automotive industry for MLive. Email him at MWayland@mlive.com & follow him on Twitter @MikeWayland or Google+.