Ram to add second, smaller Fiat-based commercial van

The newly named president & CEO of Chrysler’s Ram Truck Brand operation has confirmed that a second Fiat-based van will be joining the Ram commercial-truck lineup, according to a news report posted by WardsAuto.com.

Reid Bigland told reporters at Chrysler’s Auburn Hills, MI, headquarters yesterday that the new as-yet-unnamed van will be based on the Fiat Doblò Cargo van and will be launched here within 18 to 24 months, reported Wards.

The Doblo-based van will replace the outgoing Ram C/V Tradesman van, which is based on the Dodge Grand Caravan minivan.

The new, smaller commercial van will join the Fiat Ducato-based ProMaster full-size van in the 2014 Ram line. According to Ram, the Ducato was reconfigured for the North American market as the ProMaster. That van will begin production in the third quarter of this year at the Chrysler plant in Saltillo, Mexico.