ATECO Automotive and the Walkinshaw Automotive Group have joined forces to convert Ram pick-up trucks to right-hand drive for the Australian markets, announcing the new venture – dubbed ‘American Special Vehicles’ – this week ahead of sales commencing later this year.
The confirmation this week has Ateco Automotive as the joint-venture partner with Walkinshaw Automotive, with Ryan Walkinshaw revealing that his company – which has been preparing for a future without the Australian-built Holden performance cars that underpin the HSV range – had invested “millions” into the Ram project. The pick-up trucks will be imported directly to Melbourne from the factory – in both Warren, Michigan, and Saltillo in Mexico – and converted from left- to right-hand drive on a “purpose-built production line” at Walkinshaw’s Clayton facility.
“Our engineers and manufacturing teams have relished the challenge of designing hundreds of OE quality parts, and implementing a completely unique build process,” Mr Walkinshaw said.
“The objective was very clear – produce a right-hand-drive Ram pick-up that meets the engineering standards, quality, and refinement of the left-hand-drive product.
“We have invested millions of dollars and tens of thousands of man-hours to ensure we met our objective – the Ram pick-ups engineered by American Special Vehicles set a new benchmark and I couldn’t be more excited. They are absolutely spot-on.”
Ateco Automotive will lend its “import, distribution, network, sales and marketing expertise” to the program.
According to Ateco and Walkinshaw, the right-hook Ram trucks will be produced with full volume import approval, “meaning they will be fully compliant with Australian Design Rules and that American Special Vehicles will be the sole importer of Ram models covered by that approval”.
The vehicles will be covered by a three-year/100,000km warranty “along with full parts and service support”.
A revised on-sale date – originally scheduled for September this year – is still to be provided, although the companies say the first models will be available before the end of this year.
Further details on the model range, specification, pricing and dealer network are expected soon.
