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Ram 1500 Express. (Stellantis North America via Facebook)

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Stellantis NV’s Ram brand is bringing a cheaper version of its Michigan-made pickup truck to the U.S. market in a bid to bolster sales and minimize its tariff bill.

The new Ram 1500 Express, which starts at $44,495, will reach dealerships in the third quarter. It comes roughly a year after the Ram Classic, an entry-level work truck, was dropped by the company’s previous chief executive, Carlos Tavares, who also shifted some truck production from Michigan to Mexico.

Ram is trying to spark a sales turnaround in the lucrative truck segment after its market share plummeted in recent years as high borrowing costs prompted consumers to shift from luxe pickups and SUVs to more budget-friendly models.

The carmaker is also trying to navigate a chaotic trade landscape, with the Trump administration’s new 25% tariff on imported vehicles and parts threatening to add costs to its commercial vans and heavy-duty trucks made in Mexico.

Ram light-duty pickup sales fell 11% in the first quarter of this year, though the company noted sales to individual shoppers, versus its sales to businesses and rental companies, climbed 16%. It sold 373,120 pickups last year, a 16% drop from 2023.

The Ram 1500 Express is a revival of a popular truck package that comes in a monochromatic paint design to give it a customized look. The vehicle offers features typically only available on more expensive trim levels, such as adaptive cruise control and 20-inch wheels, for under $50,000.

The Ram 1500’s entry-level Tradesman trim starts at around $42,000, while the highest Tungsten trim approaches $100,000 and includes options like extra horsepower, massage seats and voice-activated air conditioning.

Stellantis also extended an employee pricing promotion across its brands from April through the end of May to try to capitalize on consumer demand to snap up products before tariffs potentially drive up sticker prices.