Ram patents three-row pick-up truck

RAM Trucks has been hard at work developing and patenting three seat rows for its 1500 EV dual-cab electric pick-up.

The development has potentially profound implications for the dual-cab pick-up segment upping the passenger capacity from five to seven, unheard-of in anything less than a specifically designed people mover or passenger van.

The triple row layout in a ute poses a set of challenges particularly access that seem to have been cleverly addressed by the engineers and designers at Ram Trucks whose removable third-row jump seats are poised for production.

Somewhat like the folding rear “dickie” seats in some extra cab utes sold Down Under, Ram’s seats can be clipped onto the rear cab wall, removed for extra space, or placed on the tailgate for outdoor seating.

Reported on the CarBuzz website, it looks like Ram 1500 REV's third-row jump seats may only arrive in the second-generation model still a long way off as the first-gen’ will arrive in Q4 2024.

The US manufacturer revealed its smart seating set-up in January last year in the Ram1500 EV Revolution Concept that was crammed full of new and exciting tech’ and features, only some of which have made it through into the first-generation model launching soon.

It is apparent the three seat rows fall into this category for the moment as Ram puts a focus on other aspects of its new electric ute (truck) and wants to keep some of its powder dry for the next gen’ model.

Ram is also keeping an eye on customer demand in relation to many of the innovative elements in the 1500 EV Revolution Concept model.

According to Carbuzz, on the concept model the industry-first feature sees the seats clipped onto the rear wall of the cabin, which also acted as a mid-gate pass-through for extra-long loads, the latter like a feature GMC had earlier developed.

“In the Stellantis (Ram) patent, both the backrest and the folding seat that clip onto this wall can be removed for a little more space or for a flatter floor when using the pass-through,” the report detailed.

“Additionally, they can be placed on the tailgate if the user desires, creating an outdoor seating area for two with no more effort than unclipping and fastening a couple of lightweight pads per seat.”

It is understood the seats can also be placed outside the vehicle and fastened to a flat surface. The patent for this design explains the detaching and fastening mechanisms, which could be actuated using a single lever for convenience.

What has big implications for the auto making industry at large is not how the Ram feature works but how it could be widely introduced as an option given adequate third row legroom.

Carbuzz quoted Stellantis design boss Ralph Gilles who described the concept truck last year as “essentially a manifesto and roadmap of where the brand is headed, and this sort of patent indicates that Ram is headed toward greater comfort and practicality”.

Mr Gilles added that many of the concept’s features would appear in production in the “near long term”.

Meanwhile, Group CEO Carlos Tavares said, “Everything that you have seen on the CES concept car will come at different steps of the lifecycle management or for the next generation, depending on the feature”.

Numbered among them are a wireless EV charger, an augmented reality head-up display and up to 28 inches of touchscreen real estate.