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Chrysler's internal documents question Ram quality as workers protest

Chrysler is reportedly having a hard time ramping up production of its 2013 Ram 1500. According to The Detroit News, only 16 of the 58 trucks built at the Warren Truck Assembly Plant during the model's first hour passed final inspection. While quality eventually improved over the course of the day, just over half of the units built on Thursday were approved for shipment. Even with workers ordered to stay late to fix their mistakes, some 1,078 units remained outside the facility with defects. The problem, according to workers at the plant, is morale.
According to the report, Chrysler recently changed the shift schedule at the plant and workers are unhappy with the new situation. The new plan has workers split into three shifts, each covering four 10-hour days. With the shifts staggered, some workers now have to work nights and on Saturdays. Some employees are so upset that they've taken to protesting, though the move isn't sanctioned by the United Auto Workers.
Meanwhile, Chrysler admits there were internal issues with the launch, but that the company was able to contain them. A spokesperson has said "plant quality indicators are getting progressively better."

2019 Ram 1500 spotted with split tailgate

A little over three years ago, we discovered a patent from Fiat-Chrysler that showed a pickup truck tailgate that not only dropped down like a normal one, but was also split into two swing-out halves. It appears to be a reality now, since one of the Ram 1500 prototypes shown above has just such a tailgate. The tailgate above does look a bit different from the one shown in the patent drawings. For one thing, it's not a 50/50 split in the middle. Instead, Ram seems to have opted for something like a 60/40, or maybe 70/30 split. We're not sure exactly why this is, but there could be a few advantages. For one, It probably allows for the use of the same or nearly the same handle as on conventional Rams, as well as the same badging. For another, if the tailgate operates as described in the patent, it might be possible to open just one side without opening the other, and having the shorter piece could offer some flexibility in tight areas where a larger half couldn't open fully. Testing alongside the split tailgate truck were some other Ram 1500s that had their tailgates completely covered. They did reveal some other cargo management features that should show up on the production truck, such as a return of the RamBox bedside storage compartments. One of the trucks also revealed some ribbed bedsides that would allow the positioning of a cargo divider just about anywhere in the bed. We expect to see the new Ram 1500 to be fully revealed at the Detroit Auto Show in January. In the meantime, you can check out what we believe the production truck will look like, as well as everything we know about it, here. Related Video:

Ram boss says not to expect midsize pickup in America

Remember that mysterious midsize four-door pickup FCA was spotted testing recently? It may be sold as a Fiat in markets overseas, but don't expect it to join the Ram lineup in North America. At least not according to the latest word from the truck brand's new boss. Speaking with Automotive News at the New York Auto Show, Ram CEO Bob Hegbloom outlined four criteria for a successful midsize pickup, particularly in the North American marketplace: they have less capability than a fullsize truck, but return with a more compact form, lower price and considerably higher fuel economy. "I've been able to develop a strategy to come up with three of the four," said Hegbloom, but "I haven't seen anyone who can deliver on all four." Smaller and less capable are easy, but getting both the price and the fuel consumption down at the same time is where it gets tricky. As it is, a Ram 1500 with the diesel engine and rear-wheel drive delivers 29 miles per gallon on the highway, which is already more than the 27-mpg rating on the midsize Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon. But Hegbloom figures that in order to justify a midsize pickup, American buyers would expect at least 35 mpg on the highway, and in order to do so, FCA would have to employ some trick tech, which would in turn raise the price beyond an attractive level. The last time Chrysler offered a midsize truck in America was with the Dakota that was discontinued in 2011. Ford similarly ceased offering the Ranger in North America in 2012, leaving the new Colorado and Canyon to take on the Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier in the compact/midsize pickup market in the US. With the prospect of a Ram version apparently off the table, then, Fiat's midsize four-door pickup is likely take on the likes of the Volkswagen Amarok, Mitsubishi Triton and Toyota Hilux in markets like Europe and South America. But like those trucks, it will likely never see the inside of an American showroom.