Ram truck loyalists have been fuming mad for months.
The automaker made one bone-headed decision that sent their most dedicated customers into a rage.
And now Ram’s CEO just dropped a bombshell confession that has the automotive world buzzing.
Ram admits they completely screwed up by killing the HEMI
For decades, the HEMI V-8 engine was the heart and soul of Ram trucks.
The legendary powerplant delivered raw American muscle with its distinctive rumble that could be heard from blocks away.
But Ram made the catastrophic mistake of discontinuing the beloved HEMI V-8 engine from its 2025 Ram trucks.
The decision was part of what critics called a "woke" pivot by the since-ousted CEO of parent company Stellantis, Carlos Tavares.
The company eliminated the HEMI to comply with tougher environmental rules from the previous administration while trying to boost gas mileage across their truck lineup.
But American truck buyers weren’t interested in corporate excuses about regulations.
They demanded their beloved HEMI engines back.
The backlash hit hard and fast.
According to Lindsay Fifelski, head of Ram brand advertising, "When Ram made the decision to discontinue production of the iconic HEMI V-8, the internet erupted, and lifelong loyalists voiced their outrage across social media."
Ram’s overall sales dropped more than 18% year over year in 2024 after they killed the HEMI.
That’s what happens when you abandon the customers who made your brand successful.
New Ram CEO issues a stunning mea culpa
Tim Kuniskis came out of retirement last year to take over as Ram’s new CEO.
He knew he had to fix the mess left behind by his predecessor.
Kuniskis did something almost unheard of in corporate America.
He publicly admitted the company screwed up.
"We own it. We got it wrong. And we’re fixing it," Kuniskis announced in a newly-released commercial.
The ad features Kuniskis getting behind the wheel of a Ram truck and speeding down a NASCAR runway.
"You hear that? That’s our HEMI, and it’s saying, ‘I’m back,’" he said as the truck blazed down the track.
The commercial doubles as both an apology and a reintroduction of the HEMI engine, which will return in 2026 models.
"We knew we couldn’t market our way around this moment; we had to meet it head-on," Fifelski explained.
The HEMI delivers power that can’t be replicated
The HEMI engine isn’t just another powerplant.
It’s an American icon.
The engine gets its name from the hemispherical shape of its combustion chambers.
The engine’s unique hemispherical combustion chamber design creates superior airflow, better efficiency, and more raw power than conventional engines.
This powerhouse can crank out over 717 horsepower in its supercharged versions and has earned a reputation for lasting forever, delivering massive low-end torque, and producing that unmistakable growl.
Ram swapped out the HEMI for their new Hurricane series of twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engines.
Corporate brass claimed the Hurricane was stronger and more fuel-efficient than the V-8 it replaced.
Ram customers saw right through the spin.
They cared more about the HEMI’s legendary sound, rock-solid reliability, and what it represented in American car culture than corporate buzzwords about improved efficiency.
Ram returns to its roots after woke experiment fails
The HEMI’s return represents more than just bringing back a popular engine.
It’s a rejection of the woke corporate policies that nearly destroyed the brand.
Kuniskis told CNBC that he expects the HEMI to account for 25% to 40% of Ram 1500 pickup truck sales in 2025.
The renewed interest suggests the company’s about-face could deliver not just goodwill, but a needed boost at the dealership level.
Ram and its parent company Stellantis are joining other automakers in moving away from full electrification of their fleets.
Multiple major automakers — including Ford, GM, and Mercedes-Benz — have pulled back or postponed their electric vehicle plans because consumers aren’t buying EVs like predicted, production costs remain sky-high, and charging stations are still too scarce.
By the end of 2023, electric vehicles were collecting dust on dealer lots, taking over three times longer to sell compared to gas-powered vehicles.
The Trump administration has pushed to scrap many of Biden’s green initiatives that forced automakers to abandon what their customers actually wanted.
The HEMI’s comeback shows what happens when companies listen to their customers instead of government bureaucrats and environmental activists.
Ram learned the hard way that you can’t abandon your core customers and expect to survive.
Now they’re bringing back the engine that made them famous.