New Ram Plant to Have Test Track On-Site
Among the many changes and upgrades necessary at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' Sterling Heights Assembly Plant in Michigan will be the addition of a new test track. The plant that previously built the Chrysler 200 sedan will be the new home of the next-generation Ram 1500 pickup truck.
According to Automotive News and The Detroit News, FCA will spend more than $1 billion to improve the plant structure and machinery, as well as add a $5.8 million track area outside. There are no details as to what type of track or what type of testing FCA is planning to do, but we assume it must have something to do issues unique to the new half-ton pickup.
Whether the testing facility will include an area to test the four-wheel-drive system, a towing dyno or a maximum payload scale, we will have to wait until the plant is closer to the start of production, estimated to be around the first quarter of 2018, building model-year 2019 pickups.
Cars.com images by Evan Sears
Comments
Seems like a necessity...
Test track will be nothing more than a big parking lot with a couple beauty shops, craft stores, and grocery store.
Odd if they don't have a production test track today.
There already numbers 1
Many many car companies have a test cicuit outside to take the cars for a spin after they are built. Check subaru indiana or toyota camry Kentucky or honda ontario on you tube for example. This is standard practice. Unfortunately Ram has been building trucks at Sterling Heights and they go straight and I mean straight into the back of a rail car. The rail cars back up to the building thats how straight they go into the rail car. The trucks dont see the light of day.
Then they get to the dealers and they have alignment issues or leak issues or others. And it costs more time and money to fix the PDI there than at the factory.
Good job Mark Williams for knowing all this.
@mike, Rams are built at Warren Truck, not Sterling Heights. SH currently builds the Chrysler 200 sedan and will be closed in January to retool for the new Ram 1500.
I wonder if this is where all the Dodge forced buy back trucks will go to get some new model sheet metal, serial number and odometer updates before they get reshipped to the dealers?
I would think it would be cheaper to build a new plant then refurbish an old building, I don't know
Where did Fiat find $1 Billion?
they go straight and I mean straight into the back of a rail car. The rail cars back up to the building thats how straight they go into the rail car. The trucks dont see the light of day.
Then they get to the dealers and they have alignment issues or leak issues or others. And it costs more time and money to fix the PDI there than at the factory.
Posted by: Mike | Oct 7, 2016 10:45:46 AM
So this is why FCA-Ram products have so many issues. Good looking out for you.
Congrats to RAM for a new Plant and Test Track.
Take a notes from the RAM books Ford and GM. You would have the money like RAM, if no recalls. Too bad, you spent them all on silly commercials and deadly recalls. Have a great weekend . Don't forget to check your mail box for the letter from ford recall center. Safety first.
That's because Fiat Chrysler buries their skeletons out back. They don't issue recalls until the Fed is preparing to raid the place.
It's a wonder GM and Ford could have so many issues with things as simple as ignition switches, steering or brakes still. Must be focusing on the new high tech gadgets in the cab and forgetting the rest of the stuff that makes a truck a truck.
@Frank Senior or whoever you want to be called Laughing My Oz Off.
How do you hide a nonexistent customers complains? Eh ?
My 2010 RAM 4x4 Laramie has no complains or recalls for engine, trany, brakes or door latches.
Ford on the other site..... doesn't hide anything. Everyone knows about a brakes problems for almost a year, but no recall, because in the bed with feds.
Warren Plant Is Where the Rams Are built.
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