NO DOUBT wishing to retain its number one sales position in the (large) US-style pick-up segment, Ram Trucks Australia has launched a sharpish end-of-financial-year sales push on its off-road oriented 1500 Rebel model headlined by a 4.99 per cent finance offer targeting ABN holders.

 

Buyers will have to be quick as the offer is available from April 1 to June 30, with the so-called “Mates Rates” deal on new Rebel stock. The deal is offered through Ram Trucks Finance on a 48-month term, with no deposit required and a maximum 40 per cent balloon payment.

 

The sales campaign comes as Ram continues to leverage strong demand for full-size US pick-ups locally, where it says the 1500 has led its segment for seven consecutive years. But rapid, upward fuel pricing pressure may impact heavily on Ram sales and all competing makes: Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota.

 

Priced from $141,950 plus on-road costs, the Rebel sits as the off-road-focused variant in the Ram 1500 line-up, pairing heavy-duty hardware with a more aggressive visual package.

 

The imposing truck is powered by the brand’s new ‘Hurricane’ twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder petrol engine, producing 313kW and 635Nm – replacing the outgoing 5.7-litre Hemi V8 with gains in both performance and efficiency.

 

Ram head office in the US has already announced it will reintroduce the Hemi V8 stateside in some form between June and August this year but its (re)appearance Down Under is not confirmed.

 

The ruggedised Rebel package extends beyond cosmetic upgrades with Bilstein off-road suspension, dedicated off-road wheels and tyres, and crawl control technology.

 

Towing capacity is rated at 3500kg on a 50mm tow ball, rising to 4500kg with a 70mm setup.

 

Interior specification leans towards the premium end of the segment, with a panoramic sunroof, 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, and a multi-screen layout comprising a 14.4-inch infotainment display, 12-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch passenger display.

 

Standard equipment also includes a tow bar with integrated trailer braking, handy spray-in bedliner and a power-operated, damped tailgate.

 

The model is offered with two new exterior colour options including Granite Crystal and Diamond Black that expand the palette alongside the existing red, white and blue finishes, while black badging, a “unique” grille and a vented sports bonnet complete the Rebel’s visual differentiation.

 

Ram Trucks Australia general manager Jeff Barber said the finance offer was designed to capitalise on buyer interest ahead of EOFY.

 

“This finance offer makes it even easier for buyers to get behind the wheel of a Ram 1500 Rebel in the lead-up to the end of the financial year, while stock lasts,” he said.

 

The 4.99 per cent rate is available to approved ABN applicants only, with terms and conditions applying.

The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), the country’s main green bank, is committing $100 million to help more Australians and local businesses switch to electric vehicles (EVs), with discounted finance available for new and used eligible EVs.

The investment is being made in partnership with Volkswagen Financial Services Australia (VWFS) but will allow eligible customers to choose from brands as varied as Volkswagen, Audi, Škoda, Cupra, and Volvo, as well as other eligible EVs beyond these brands through VWFS’s accredited dealer network.

The discounted finance offerings will be made available through VWFS and could save up to 1.0 per cent on standard loan rates for eligible EVs, made up of 0.5 per cent from the CEFC and 0.5 per cent from VWFS.

The program covers consumer loans for passenger EVs which will be capped under the luxury car tax threshold and could save customers more than $1,900 on a typical $70,000 loan over five years.

The program also covers commercial loans for light commercial electric vehicles including vans or utility vehicles, and which are not capped by the luxury car tax threshold.

The CEFC and VWFS hope to support the electrification of Australia’s small- to medium-sized business fleets by reducing upfront costs as well as send a signal to manufacturers to begin offering a broader range of EV model options to the Australian market.

Another aspect of the goal of these investments is supporting the future integration of EVs into the electricity grid, with technologies such as vehicle-to-grid (V2G) allowing some EVs to act as mobile batteries, charging or discharging to the grid.

“We’re making it easier for businesses to choose advanced electric vehicles, including those with future-ready features like V2G, by reducing barriers like high upfront costs and by encouraging manufacturers to increase model availability in Australia,” said Richard Lovell, CEFC executive director and head of debt markets.

“This investment helps lower costs today and builds a stronger market for affordable, second-hand EVs tomorrow, making clean transport more affordable for more Australians and their businesses.”