Toyota To Build Next Generation Dodge Ram

Sources have confirmed that the next generation Dodge Ram will be engineered, designed, and built by Toyota in San Antonio.

Cost-cutting pressures and the realities of the modern auto industry have hit Chrysler hard. Late last year, Chrysler announced they were selling the Dodge Viper brand. In late January, Chrysler and Fiat announced a merger. Today, Dodge officially leaves the truck business.

This move makes sense for a few reasons:

1) The merger with Fiat doesn’t bring much in the way of truck and SUV knowledge or resources to the table.

2) The Tundra plant in San Antonio has the capacity to build 350,000 trucks per year.

3) Toyota has been looking for a way to recover their investment in the Tundra.

4) This move will bolster both companies images.

5) Dodge will save a ton of cash.

As part of the deal, Toyota will gain access to all of the Dodge Ram’s technology. We’re not sure what the benefit is here to Toyota (what can they do with it?), but who knows.

What do you think - is this good news for Tundra owners? Good news for Ram owners?
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America - 4/1/2009 2:14:35 PM

+3 Boost

This will be a boon to Toyota's truck frame engineers. Either that or Dodge truck frames will turn to rust powder like the Tundra.

t_sotello - 4/1/2009 2:36:55 PM

+6 Boost

APRIL FOOLS AGAIN MAYBE!!! I HOPE.

NItePhire - 4/1/2009 2:40:41 PM

+1 Boost

Why does every Aprils joke that's automotive has to have Toyota in it. One year it was Toyota buys Olds. Get something new. The Tundra isnt even as good as the Dodge.

veyron1001 - 4/1/2009 5:45:24 PM

0 Boost

Shouldnt you be worried about losing your job instead of scoping autospies every second or you lost it already

ChevyFan100 - 4/1/2009 6:24:51 PM

+4 Boost

April Fools!

Dodge is building the next gen Nissan Titan so why would Toyota build the Ram, Titan, and Tundra?

woood - 4/1/2009 10:45:02 PM

+2 Boost

Doesn't make sense.

Agent63 - 4/2/2009 4:34:07 AM

+1 Boost

I think Dodge gets the better part of is deal. Will it be built with better quality parts? or will the Tundra utilize that Hemi engine and just rebadge the RAM as a Tundra.

XYZZ - 4/3/2009 2:30:51 AM

+2 Boost

the ohv HEMI is overrated. the tundra 5.7 v8 is a far better engine. not just on specs, but actual real world performance.

XYZZ - 4/3/2009 2:28:27 AM

+2 Boost

if this is not an april fool's joke, dodge will get a LOT MORE out of it than toyota.

the WORST and least reliable tundra, the v8 4x4, is still better than the simplest and most reliable ram. and FAR better than ANY domestic 4x4. just count the black dots in CR's Frequency of Repair charts.

the most reliable pontiac, or anything gm for that matter, is still the Vibe, a re-badged toyota matrix.