Un-Retired CEO Tim Kuniskis Is Mulling It Over
After just seven months in retirement, Tim Kuniskis returned to running Stellantis' Ram truck brand earlier this year. So far, he's made his presence known. But in a recent interview with CNBC, Kuniskis said there's much more on the way-including a possible return to passenger vans.
Kuniskis plans to make more than 25 announcements through next year. So far those have included the return of Hemi V8 to the Ram 1500 pickup truck, the brand's entry into the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and impressive powertrain warranties. Kuniskis told CNBC that further announcements could encompass some new models, potentially including a passenger van.
What Form Would A Passenger Van Take?
Kuniskis didn't provide any details on the potential passenger van, but the most obvious route to take would be adding more seats to the current Ram ProMaster. While it's only sold as a cargo van and in a "crew" configuration with second-row seats for occasional use, the ProMaster's Fiat Ducato cousin is sold in Europe as a passenger van.
Cargo vans converted to passenger vans have been the default for Ram in the past, and for Dodge before the truck and van lines were split off into the separate Ram brand. The smaller ProMaster City (another Fiat derivative) was available in both passenger and cargo configurations before it was discontinued in 2022, making it the last Ram passenger van sold in the U.S. to date.
A passenger conversion of a cargo van would fill a hole in Ram's current lineup. The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Ford Transit, and even General Motors' ancient Chevrolet Express and GMC Savanna are all available in both passenger and cargo-carrying configurations. The electric Volkswagen ID.Buzz is somewhat smaller than these full-size vans, but also fits that template, although the cargo version isn't sold in the U.S.
Rethinking Ram
Kuniskis' flurry of announcements is meant to help Ram get its groove back. The truck brand's sales have declined 38% since their peak in 2019, it plummeted down the rankings in the latest J.D. Power Initial Quality Study, and has continually delayed its first all-electric and plug-in hybrid pickups.
New products will help Ram compete in more market segments and make the brand's success less reliant on its full-size and heavy-duty pickups. Ram has already confirmed a midsize pickup truck for 2027, but other than that, it's been vague on what might be in the pipeline. If Kuniskis keeps up the current pace of announcements, though, we'll find out soon enough.
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This story was originally published June 30, 2025 at 4:40 PM