Ram 1500 Sales Surge Helps Stellantis Finally Reverse a Seven-Year Slide

The Ram 1500 is having a moment. Sales of Stellantis' flagship pickup jumped 27% in the second quarter, helping the automaker post its fourth straight quarterly gain and potentially breaking a seven-year streak of declining sales. While other key nameplates like the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Wrangler, and Dodge Durango struggled, the Ram's strong performance pushed Stellantis' total first-half deliveries up 6%.

Dealers in pickup-heavy markets like Texas are moving trucks fast, thanks to aggressive rebates that can shave up to $20,000 off a loaded Tungsten trim. One dealer told Automotive News that the discounts bring the $92,000 truck into a more affordable range, driving a surge in buyer interest.

Meanwhile, General Motors continues to struggle in China, where sales fell 20% in the second quarter to 357,000 vehicles. That marks the third consecutive year-over-year decline for GM in the world's largest auto market. -developed Ultium EVs failed to gain traction. However, two new models developed with partner SAIC are showing signs of life: the Buick Electra E7 plug-in hybrid became Buick's top seller a month after launch, and the Baojun Huajing S sold over 9,100 units in its first quarter.

Even so, China's overall market shrank for the ninth straight month, down 21% in June, making it a tough environment for all Western automakers.

In other news, Washington state auto dealers are suing Scout Motors over its direct-to-consumer sales model. The Washington State Auto Dealers Association argues that Scout, as an affiliate of Volkswagen Group, should be subject to the same franchise laws that require sales through dealerships.

Similar lawsuits are already underway in California, Florida, and Virginia. Scout maintains it's an independent brand, but the dealers point to its ties to VW, Audi, and Porsche as proof of a conflict. The legal battle may be moot for now, though: Scout's Traveler SUV has been delayed until 2028, and its Terra pickup won't arrive until 2030.

Finally, Honda is recalling over 325,000 Odysseys from the 2018-2020 model years because water can damage the rearview camera, causing it to fail when the vehicle is shifted into reverse. Dealers will replace the camera free of charge.