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The Dodge Ram was a major American pickup truck for decades. Recently, Dodge and Ram split into sister brands; both are owned by the Netherlands-based Stellantis company. Back in 1995, Chrysler Corporation opened a factory in Saltillo, Mexico to assemble Dodge Ram trucks. The Ram 2500 is still made in Mexico.

Does Dodge make Ram trucks?

Dodge no longer owns Ram trucks. Dodge and Ram are separate brands, both owned by the company Stellantis. The two automakers share technology and a dealer network.

Blue Dodge Power Wagon parked on a road above a sandy mountain range.
2022 Ram Power Wagon | Stellantis

Dodge has been building trucks since the 1920s and introduced America’s first 4WD pickup truck in 1946. Beginning in 1981, Dodge badged every 2WD pickup truck as a Dodge Ram. 4WD Dodge trucks dropped their Power Wagon badges and became Dodge Power Rams.

Today, Dodge no longer builds Ram trucks. Dodge builds its cars alongside the Chrysler 300 at the Brampton Assembly plant in Ontario, Canada. Dodge builds its Dodge Durango SUV alongside the Jeep Grand Cherokee at the Detroit Assembly Complex in Michigan.

Ram assembles its Ram 1500 at the Sterling Heights Assembly plant, also in Michigan. Four-door Ram 1500 Classic trucks also hail from Michigan, but from the Warren Truck Assembly plant. The two-door Ram 1500 Classic, the Ram 2500, and Ram’s other heavy-duty trucks come from their own factory.

Where are Ram 2500 trucks made?

The 2022 Ram 2500 heavy-duty truck is assembled in Mexico. This truck is built alongside the Ram 3500, 4500, and 5500 as well as two-door Ram 1500 Classic trucks and the Ram ProMaster van in Saltillo, Mexico.

Ram 2500 pickup truck parked in the desert of Mexico.
2022 Ram 2500 | Stellantis

You may already know that the 2022 Ram 1500 is American-made. But did you know that many of Ram’s other trucks are assembled in Mexico? This includes the Ram 2500.

Chrysler corporation first opened the Saltillo plant to assemble Dodge Ram trucks in 1995. Today, the factory employs over 4,000 people working three shifts. Saltillo built its 4 millionth vehicle, a Ram 2500 Laramie, back in 2019.

The greater Saltillo Assembly compound is 49 acres. The factory’s floor space is 212,850 feet. Its 4,000+ employees are unionized: they belong to Mexico’s National Union of Integrated Automotive and Allied Industries.

When former President Donald Trump proposed withdrawing from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and leveling a tariff on trucks built in Mexico, FCA announced it would move all heavy-duty truck production back to the U.S. by 2020. But the company’s plans have changed: At the time of this writing, Ram is still assembling its heavy-duty trucks abroad.

Is the Ram 2500 a good truck?

Just because the Ram 2500 is built in Mexico does not mean it’s a bad truck. According to Allpar, Chrysler Corporation awarded its Saltillo, Mexico plant for having the highest build quality of any Ram truck factory.

Three heavy-duty Ram trucks parked in a mountain pass.
2022 Ram 2500 and 3500 trucks | Stellantis

Ram builds most of its models in Saltillo. This includes all heavy-duty Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups. In addition, Saltillo builds the chassis-cab Ram trucks (3500, 4500, and 5500) and the Ram vans. Saltillo builds all “regular cab” two-door Ram Classic trucks.

Saltillo also builds the Ram 4000, although that truck is only available in the Mexican market. Stellantis builds the Ram 1000, only available in the Latin American market, in Brazil.

Are you curious where your Ram truck was built? If its VIN begins in 1,4, or 5 it was built in the United States. If its VIN begins with a 2 it was assembled in Canada. Finally, a truck with a VIN that begins with a 3 was assembled in Mexico.

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Staff Writer

Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari joined MotorBiscuit in 2021 and brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. Henry is also an avid attendee at local car shows and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts.

Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont. He has since incorporated his love of the written word with his admiration of classic cars. While Henry is interested in vintage cars, he believes the golden age of cars is yet to come. He is confident journalists will play an important role in this revolution by exposing the industry as it is now and envisioning its possible future.