Ramming its way here
Fiat Chrysler New Zealand (FCNZ) has signed a deal to import and convert the Dodge Ram pick-up truck to right-hand-drive (RHD) for the Kiwi and Australian markets. The Ram is set to go on sale in this country during September when full details of the range and pricing will be announced. Clyde Campbell, director of FCNZ, says there is a market for the big pick-ups in Australasia. READ MORE: Chrysler fighting for sales share “I’ve always believed in vehicles of this size and nature as having a genuine place in our culture,” he says. “I guess it comes from having a farm of my own and looking at things farmers might use them. From a towing perspective, there’s nothing that can do what super-utes do.” He says FCNZ will be the only Ram convertor with the backing of the manufacturer to convert the vehicles to RHD. “I had a look at the product out there and said, ‘gee, if someone was to do this properly, it could be a good proposition’,” adds Campbell. “And by properly, I mean don’t using any fibreglass. I don’t know any converters that don’t have a fibreglass-free car.” The distributor has not specific targets in mind for volume, but he says they will be “quite conservative”.