Court showdown reveals a stripped down Ram electric pickup truck
Stellantis' abandonment of plans for an electric Ram heavy-duty pickup truck has triggered a $25 million legal battle between two major automotive parts suppliers.
Here's What We Know
Two years ago, US brand Ram unveiled the battery-electric 1500 REV pickup at the New York Auto Show. The start of sales was scheduled for the end of 2024, but it was further postponed until at least 2026. That's not all, though: as it turns out, there was also a heavy-duty electric pickup in development that was supposed to join the 2027 model year. It was cancelled in 2024 without much fuss.
The information has only surfaced now thanks to a lawsuit filed by supplier Valeo against American Axle Manufacturing. According to Autonews, Valeo is being sued for refusing to cover "sunk costs" associated with the vehicle. Valeo reportedly spent millions developing electric motors and inverters to be used in American Axle units.
American Axle announced a contract with Stellantis in 2023 and said the future model - which was a mystery at the time - would have "both front and rear e-Beam axles incorporating integrated AAM e-Drive 3-in-1 technology." They added that the car will arrive at the end of the decade and will have the engine, inverter and gearbox combined into a single unit.
The two suppliers are now vying for the sum of $25 million. Valeo reportedly wants to be paid for its work, while American Axle claims that the two companies did not have an enforceable contract.
Source: Autonews
