There’s been an unmistakable shift in the auto industry away from traditional engines and in favor of either EVs or gas-powered motors much smaller than what drivers are used to.
But while that change might make the environmental activists on the left happy, it isn’t sitting well with typical motorists who want to hear the rumble of a big V8 under the hood.
And to his credit, the CEO of Dodge-owned Ram has listened to the critics and promises to do something about it.
According to the New York Post:
The automaker had discontinued the beloved HEMI V-8 engine from its 2025 Ram trucks as part of a “woke” pivot by the since-ousted CEO of parent company Stellantis Carlos Tavares,
ADVERTISEMENTBut new Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis, who came out of retirement last last year, offered up a mea culpa over the decision to pull the plug on the engine that powered the top-selling truck for decades.
In a newly-released ad, Kuniskis publicly acknowledged the misstep and said Ram is reversing course by bringing back the gas-guzzling HEMI engine in 2026 models.
“We own it. We got it wrong. And we’re fixing it,” Kuniskis announces in the commercial.
Ram ditched the HEMI as part of its broader push toward meeting stricter emissions regulations enacted by the Biden administration as well as its goal of improving fuel efficiency across its lineup.
President Trump administration has pushed to scrap many of Biden’s green initiatives.
“When Ram made the decision to discontinue production of the iconic HEMI V-8, the internet erupted, and lifelong loyalists voiced their outrage across social media,” Lindsay Fifelski, head of Ram brand advertising, told Fast Company.
News of the reversal quickly sparked social media calls for other automakers to do the same:
Howdy @jimfarley98,
Did you see the greatness Tim Kuniskis pulled off bringing back the Hemi?
Can you go ahead and bring back the Powerstroke F150? That would be epic.
Thanks bud,
Charles— Charles F11 (@charlesf11) June 9, 2025
The continued unpopularity of EVs among the general population has already prompted similar strategy shifts across the automotive industry:
Ford EV going really well, right? pic.twitter.com/pvJJTZ5Zqd
— TeslaBoomerPapa (@TeslaBoomerPapa) June 3, 2025
5/ Industry is already responding.
GM just announced:
$4 BILLION to ramp up gas-powered car production
EVs are great. But you shouldn’t be FORCED to buy one. Especially without enough power plants! pic.twitter.com/uuVJvYNAts
— Rod D. Martin (@RodDMartin) June 12, 2025
Ram’s move has been underway for some time, as CNBC reported earlier this month:
“Everyone makes mistakes, but how you handle them defines you. Ram screwed up when we dropped the Hemi — we own it and we fixed it,” Kuniskis said in a press release. “We’re not just bringing back a legendary V-8 engine, we’re igniting an assertive product plan and expanding the freedom of choice in powertrain for our customers.”
The announcement marked the latest reversal in automakers’ plans this year, as EV adoption has been slower than expected and as the Trump administration has sought to unwind many of former President Joe Biden’s initiatives to push the auto industry away from gas-guzzling internal combustion engines.
Here’s the full Ram commercial:
This is a Guest Post from our friends over at WLTReport.
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