Skip to main content

The Ram 1500 is one of the best pickup trucks on the market today. It has many great features, such as one of the best interiors available in a pickup truck as well as one of the highest fuel efficiency ratings of any truck. But with the reveal of Tesla’s Cybertruck, Ram may have to come up with a new marketing campaign for the Ram 1500.

The Ram 1500’s efficiency focus 

Ram’s marketing campaign is focused on how the efficiency of the design of the Ram 1500 allows it to be one of the most fuel efficient pickup trucks available in America. On top of that, when equipped with its 3.0-liter V6 diesel engine, the Ram 1500 can get 22 MPG in the city and 32 MPG on the highway, for a combined fuel economy of 27 MPG.

Very few pickup trucks can boast such a great fuel economy, especially for a full-sized pickup truck. The Ram 1500 can achieve such a high fuel efficiency for two primary reasons. First, its diesel engine, which is one of the best in its class for fuel economy. Secondly, the design of the Ram 1500 itself. It has an aerodynamic design that helps it to get that great fuel economy.

But with the reveal of the Cybertruck, a pickup truck with a completely unique and sleek aerodynamic design, Ram’s marketing campaign seems outdated already. 

The Cybertruck’s super efficiency 

Tesla, with its Cybertruck, has designed a pickup truck that puts efficiency at the forefront in three big ways that the Ram 1500 can’t compete with. First, with an electric motor, or in the Cybertruck’s case, up to three motors, the Cybertruck is simply far more fuel efficient than the Ram 1500 is. Ram can’t compete with that unless it offers an electric motor for the Ram 1500.

View this post on Instagram

I’m gonna tell my kids this is the first pick-up

A post shared by Tesla (@teslamotors) on

Secondly, in terms of aerodynamics and looks, the Cybertruck is far more sleek and full of sharp and straight edges than the Ram 1500 is. The Ram 1500 largely looks like any other pickup truck does in terms of shape, whereas the Cybertruck is totally unique in terms of how it looks. Ram will need to come up with a completely new design if it wants to match the Cybertruck’s aerodynamic capabilities. 

Finally, as Wired mentions, the simple design of the Cybertruck is likely how Tesla is able to offer it at such a low price of about $40,000. With that boxy design, according to Wired, Tesla will be able to manufacture the Cybertruck more affordably. This allows Tesla to sell the Cybertruck for a price tag that’s comparable to the more premium trims of the Ram 1500. 

Will Ram enthusiasts care?

Ford and Chevy fans are notorious for being loyal to their truck brands, and that’s true to a lesser extent for Ram’s fans. The Cybertruck, although it’s more efficient in almost every way than the Ram 1500, is already catching flak for its looks. 

Like many other things in life, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but the Cybertruck’s unique design can be considered ugly by many truck fans. The most loyal Ford, Chevy, and Ram fans may never touch a Cybertruck in their life, but with Tesla’s focus on efficiency, it’s hard to imagine that Ford, Chevy, and Ram won’t follow in Tesla’s footsteps in the future. 

At the end of the day, efficiency seems to be what vehicles of the future are aiming for, and with the Cybertruck, Tesla’s just introducing its take on what the next big leap in efficiency may look like.