The truck world is a little bit on edge right now. If you've been scrolling through automotive forums or checking your news feed lately, you’ve probably seen the headlines floating around suggesting that Ram cancels electric pickup truck development or is pulling the plug on the much-anticipated 1500 REV. It’s a messy situation. People are frustrated.
But here’s the thing: Stellantis, the parent company behind Ram, hasn't actually issued a "it's over" press release. Instead, they've done something that, in the eyes of many enthusiasts, feels almost as bad. They pushed the goalposts.
Late in 2024 and heading into 2025, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares made it clear that the company is prioritizing quality over speed. This resulted in the official delay of the Ram 1500 REV and the range-extended Ramcharger. Originally slated for a late 2024 release, these trucks are now looking at a 2025 arrival. When a major manufacturer slows down during an "EV winter" where Ford is cutting F-150 Lightning production and GM is shifting back toward hybrids, the rumor mill starts spinning at 1,000 RPM. People see a delay and immediately translate that to mean Ram cancels electric pickup truck dreams entirely. That isn't exactly the reality, but the nuance is where things get interesting.
The Reality Behind the Ram 1500 REV Delay
Let’s look at the actual numbers because they tell a story of a company that is scared of a botched launch. Stellantis has been dealing with some pretty heavy inventory bloat in North America. Dealers are sitting on lots full of internal combustion engine (ICE) trucks that aren't moving as fast as they used to. Adding a $70,000+ electric truck into that mix while the charging infrastructure is still, frankly, a bit of a disaster in many parts of the country is a massive risk.
Tavares basically told reporters that they are "managing the pace" of the rollout. It’s corporate speak. It translates to: "We see Ford losing billions on EVs and we don't want to be the next headline."
The Ram 1500 REV is built on the STLA Frame platform. This isn't just a "compliance car" where they shoved batteries into a gas frame. It’s a dedicated architecture meant to handle 229 kWh battery packs. That is an enormous amount of lithium. If you’re a Ram executive and you see the market cooling, you don't just dump a massive, expensive battery-electric vehicle (BEV) into a market that is currently obsessed with hybrids.
The delay has led to some genuine confusion. Is it a cancellation? No. Is it a pivot? Absolutely.
Why the Market Thinks Ram Cancels Electric Pickup Truck Models
Consumer sentiment is a fickle thing. We’ve seen the "EV transition" go from a sprint to a crawl in less than 18 months. When Ram announced the Ramcharger—a truck with a battery and a V6 engine that acts purely as a generator—purists were confused. It’s a plug-in hybrid, but Ram doesn’t want to call it that. They call it a "range-extended electric truck."
This middle-ground approach is exactly why people think the "pure" EV is dead.
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Think about the Rivian R1T or the Tesla Cybertruck. They represent one end of the spectrum. Then you have the classic Hemi V8, which Ram just killed off in favor of the Hurricane straight-six. Ram is currently in a "No Man’s Land" of branding. By delaying the REV, they’ve allowed the narrative to shift from "Ram is an innovator" to "Ram is retreating."
Honestly, if you're a buyer waiting on a 500-mile range electric truck, this sucks. You’ve been told for two years that it’s coming. Now, the silence from the brand is deafening. That silence is what fuels the "Ram cancels electric pickup truck" searches on Google. It's a vacuum of information.
Comparing the Competition: A Harsh Landscape
To understand why these rumors persist, you have to look at what's happening to Ram’s neighbors in Detroit.
- Ford: They’ve significantly scaled back their EV investments. The "Skunkworks" team at Ford is now focused on small, affordable EVs because the big trucks are just too expensive to build and sell at a profit right now.
- General Motors: The Silverado EV and Sierra EV are out there, but they’re expensive and primarily focused on fleet buyers for the high-end trims. GM has also softened its "all-in on EVs" stance to include more plug-in hybrids.
- Tesla: The Cybertruck is finally on the road, but it’s a polarizing lifestyle vehicle, not necessarily a tool for the guy hauling drywall in a 1500 Big Horn.
Ram is watching this play out. They are the last of the "Big Three" to get a battery truck to market. Being last gives you the advantage of learning from others' mistakes, but it also gives you the disadvantage of losing the "early adopter" hype.
The Technical Hurdles and "The Quality Gap"
One thing most people don't talk about regarding the Ram cancels electric pickup truck rumors is the software. Stellantis has been plagued by software bugs in their newer Jeep models, like the Grand Cherokee 4xe. If the Ram 1500 REV launches with "ghost in the machine" electronic issues, it could kill the brand's reputation for years.
The STLA Frame platform is supposed to be the "best in class" for towing and payload. We’re talking about a targeted 14,000-pound towing capacity. That requires massive heat management and incredibly complex software to manage the power distribution. If the engineers say the software isn't ready, the truck doesn't ship.
It’s better to have a "delayed" truck than a "recalled" truck.
What This Means for the Ramcharger
The Ramcharger is the real wildcard here. While rumors suggest Ram cancels electric pickup truck projects, the Ramcharger is actually the vehicle that makes the most sense for 2026. It uses a 92 kWh battery and a 130 kW generator (the 3.6L Pentastar V6).
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It solves the two biggest problems with electric trucks:
- Towing Range: EVs lose about 50% of their range when towing heavy loads.
- Charging Infrastructure: You can just put gas in it if there isn't a working DC fast charger for 100 miles.
Because the Ramcharger is so technically similar to the REV (they share the platform), any delay to one usually affects the other. If Stellantis is struggling to get the battery supply chain or the assembly line in Sterling Heights, Michigan, up to speed, both trucks suffer.
Is the Hemi-V8 Death Related?
Kinda. Ram replaced the V8 with the Hurricane Twin-Turbo I6. A lot of traditional truck owners are mad about it. They see the death of the V8 and the delay of the EV as a sign that Ram is losing its identity.
The reality is that emissions regulations (CAFE standards) are forcing this. Ram needs the EV and the Ramcharger to offset the emissions of their gas-powered trucks. They can't cancel the electric truck program. If they did, they would face billions of dollars in fines.
So, logically, the idea that Ram cancels electric pickup truck development permanently is almost impossible. They have to build them. They just might not be building them right now at the scale they promised.
What You Should Do If You Have a Reservation
If you’re one of the people who put down a deposit for a Ram 1500 REV, you’re probably wondering if you should get your money back.
First, check your email. Ram has been sporadically sending updates to "Ram Rev Insider+" members. If you haven't heard anything, call your local dealer. Most dealers are just as in the dark as you are, but they can at least confirm if your order code is still active in the system.
Second, look at the alternatives. If you absolutely need a truck today, the EV market is actually a buyer's market for the first time ever. You can find F-150 Lightnings sitting on lots with significant incentives. If you can wait, the 2025/2026 window for Ram is going to be the "make or break" period.
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The Financial Pressure on Stellantis
We can't talk about these cancellation rumors without talking about the stock price. Stellantis has had a rough year. Their earnings took a hit, and investors are demanding higher margins. EVs are notoriously low-margin (or negative-margin) in the beginning.
There is a very real possibility that Ram has "soft-cancelled" certain trims of the electric truck. Maybe the entry-level, "affordable" version is pushed back indefinitely while they focus only on the $100,000 Tungsten trims. This is a common tactic. It keeps the "EV" brand alive without the company losing money on every unit sold to fleet buyers.
Final Perspective on the Ram EV Future
The phrase Ram cancels electric pickup truck is a bit of a hyperbolic reaction to a very real corporate slowdown. Stellantis is pivoting. They are moving away from the "EV or bust" mentality and moving toward a "Multi-Energy" strategy.
What does that mean for you? It means the truck is coming, but it might not look exactly like what was promised in the 2023 Super Bowl commercial. Expect more emphasis on the hybrid-adjacent Ramcharger and a very slow, very expensive rollout for the full-battery REV.
The truck industry is changing. The days of "build it and they will come" for EVs are over. Now, it's about "build it when it's profitable." Ram is simply waiting for that profit clock to start ticking.
Actionable Insights for Truck Buyers
If you’re navigating the current uncertainty around Ram’s electric future, keep these points in mind:
- Monitor the Ramcharger closely: This is likely to be the "real" flagship for Ram. If you see delays for the Ramcharger, that is a much bigger red flag than a delay for the pure EV REV.
- Watch the Sterling Heights Assembly Plant: This is where the magic happens. News regarding retooling or layoffs at this specific Michigan plant will give you the most accurate "boots on the ground" info about production status.
- Ignore the "Order Now" buttons on third-party sites: Only trust the official RamTrucks.com portal for reservation status. Many third-party sites haven't updated their data since the 2024 delays were announced.
- Evaluate your towing needs: If you tow more than 5,000 lbs regularly, even the best electric truck will struggle with range. The delay might actually be a blessing, giving you more time to see real-world range tests of the STLA platform before you sign a 72-month loan.
The situation is fluid. One day the headlines say the EV is dead; the next day, a camouflaged prototype is spotted testing on public roads. Stay skeptical of the "cancellation" talk until you see an official SEC filing or a statement from the CEO—neither of which have happened yet.