Ram is launching its new Ram Professional commercial vehicle division, with full-service customer mobility and value solutions, today at the 2024 National Truck and Equipment (NTEA) Work Truck Week show in Indianapolis.
Pro One’s goal is to achieve commercial vehicle global leadership, says Ken Kayser, vice president of Ram Professional. The new division is intended to play a pivotal role in North America and help achieve Stellantis’ Dare Forward 2030 global plan to reduce the company’s carbon footprint and to lead customer satisfaction.
Operating as a new separate business unit, Ram Professional is designed to be the next generation in commercial-customer vehicle service. It was created to ensure not only best-in-class commercial products, but to serve its customers every step of the way from upfit and conversion needs to electrification and connected services.
“With Ram Professional, our commercial vehicle customers will benefit from a simplified and all-encompassing business solution with products and services that feature best-in-class performance, capability, advanced technology and value to best fit their business needs,” says Kayser. “We know our customers depend on us day-in and day-out, and Ram Professional is committed to delivering the best commercial vehicle lineup and serving our customers with the most important tools of their trade.”
Ram Professional has a wide range of products designed to meet the needs of small businesses, work-truck fleets, and demanding buyers whose commercial vehicle may be his or her company’s lifeblood, says Kayser.
The idea is to offer the best value proposition and low total cost of ownership across the entire product lineup, which includes the new Ram ProMaster EV, Ram 1500 REV, Ram 1500 Ramcharger, Ram Heavy Duty, and Ram Chassis Cab lines. Ram Professional will implement new services in phases, says Kayser.
Commercial service support will be provided by a dedicated Ram BusinessLink dealer network with commercial customer-focused maintenance packages and available all-new maintenance contracts.
They include basic fleet maintenance such as lube and oil, road hazard, and multi care coverage now available for purchase. Additionally, Ram Professional has expanded full mechanical coverage and 24-hour roadside assistance, says Kayser.
Ram Professional now offers business customers simplified financing up to 100 percent of the cost, along with closed-end leasing and commercial lines of credit, through Stellantis Financial.
In addition, Jeff Kommor will be joining the brand as senior vice president of commercial sales. He will lead fleet, government, and other B2B sales opportunities.
Kommor is “an experienced leader who brings a renewed focus and will raise the bar to unlock an untapped side of the commercial and fleet business,” says Kayser. Ram Professional will make more offerings available throughout 2024.
Visit RamProfessional.com for more information.
In other news, the 12th annual Drive for Design contest begins today, in which the Stellantis North America design team asks high school students to create their dream vehicle for the year 2040 using inspiration from the company’s North American or global brands.
This year’s top prize is an exclusive opportunity to intern this summer in the Ram Truck design studio.
Mark Trostle, vice president for Ram Truck and Mopar design at Stellantis, won one of the program’s early iterations in 1987 while he was in high school.
“We host this contest because we want to inspire young creative talent and also enlighten parents about the many opportunities available within automotive design,” says Trostle. “Many of the past winners have gone on to have successful careers here, as well as at other companies and that is what’s rewarding not only to me, but our entire design team, and it drives us to continue on each year.”
In addition to the summer designer internship in the Ram Truck Exterior Design Studio, the grand prize winner also will receive a Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16 tablet and have their winning sketch featured on the Stellantis North America social media platforms.
Prizes for the second- and third-place finishers include an Apple iPad Pro and Apple Pencil, virtual portfolio review with members of the Stellantis design team and a scholarship to College for Creative Studies’ four-week summer program.
All three winners also will be invited to be judges at this summer’s EyesOn Design at Ford House, in Grosse Pointe Shores.
All student-created entries must be submitted by Friday, April 12. One grand prize winner and two additional finalists will be selected from all valid entries received.
Students, teachers, and parents can follow the contest on the Stellantis North America social media channels and learn about automotive design. Weekly contest updates and content will be posted every Tuesday with the hashtag #DriveForDesign.
For detailed contest rules, information on how to submit sketches and free resources for students of all ages, visit StellantisDriveForDesign.com.
