The 2019 Ram Heavy Duty might be able to tow 35,000 pounds just fine, but it didn’t take long to figure out what the truck couldn’t handle: The longest government shutdown in U.S. history, which Fiat Chrysler had said could delay its launch. The government is back open for now, though, and the Ram HD is back on schedule.
FCA announced Tuesday that the Ram Heavy Duty 2500 and 3500 launch is back on track, after some fears of delay due to FCA waiting on Ram 3500 emissions certifications from the Environmental Protection Agency during the shutdown. FCA hasn’t specified anything past “Q2” for the launch, though, so it’s not like many people would have noticed the emissions delay if it did happen.
Here’s the full statement, via FCA:
FCA US has received certification for its new 2019 Ram 3500 pickup – gasoline- and diesel-powered models. The Company previously received certification for its new 2019 2500 models. FCA US is grateful to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for expediting this process. The new vehicles remain on schedule for their planned Q2 launch.
Almost immediately after the Ram Heavy Duty’s debut at the Detroit Auto Show with a rated 1,000 lb-ft of torque and 35,100-pound towing capacity, FCA CEO Mike Manley said buyers could have to wait longer than advertised for Ram’s latest answer to the torque wars amongst American truck brands due to the EPA delay. Manley told reporters, as quoted by Bloomberg, he was “concerned, very concerned,” and that the “earlier that it can be resolved, clearly the better.”
Manley blamed it on the shutdown, which just wrapped up after 35 days, and, in addition to the relatively minor delay fears over at FCA, cost the economy $11 billion, ravaged some national parks, and left employees awaiting paychecks and scrambling to pay bills and mortgages in the meantime.
The truck escaped unharmed, though, which can’t very well be said about the rest of those things.