<P> Prior to the 1970s, Dodge had maintained a separate marque for trucks, Fargo, primarily for use outside the United States . After that point, all trucks made by Chrysler were distributed under the Dodge marque . </P> <P> Ram Trucks was established as a division of Chrysler in 2010, as a spin - off from the Dodge brand, and using the name of the popular Dodge Ram line of pickups that is now sold under the Ram banner . According to Chrysler, the Ram Trucks brand will concentrate on "real truck customers," rather than casual truck buyers who buy trucks for image or style . </P> <P> The Ram brand was created following Chrysler's acquisition by Italian automaker Fiat S.p.A., and the plans called for Dodge switching to an exclusively car - based lineup with all pickup and future heavy - duty trucks by Chrysler being sold under the Ram brand . This started in the 2009 calendar year . The Fiat Ducato cargo van design has been adopted and is sold as the Ram ProMaster in North American markets, filling the gap created when Daimler ended production of the Dodge Sprinter in 2008 . The goal was to increase truck sales "from today's 280,000 to 415,000 by 2014". </P> <P> Executives at Chrysler have stated their intention to compete in the semi-trailer truck category with Ram, a possibility that is aided by Fiat's ownership of Iveco and an already available network of Dodge dealers . Even though the Ram trucks are marketed separately from Dodge cars, former Ram Division President Fred Diaz stated, "Ram trucks will always and forever be Dodge's . Ram will always have the Dodge emblem inside and outside and they will be' vinned' (Vehicle Identification Number) as a Dodge . We need to continue to market as Ram so Dodge can have a different brand identity: hip, cool, young, energetic . That will not fit the campaign for truck buyers . The two should have distinct themes . (However Ram Trucks are now' vinned' as Ram .)" </P>

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