Showroom prices of new vehicles could rise further under the Australian Government’s tougher emissions regulations, according to Ram Trucks Australia general manager Jeff Barber.
Speaking at the local launch of the new Ram 2500 Warlock, the first Hemi V8-powered Ram pickup available in Australia for almost two years, Mr Barber provided an update on how the federal government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) is affecting the brand’s model range.
“It’s too early to say at this stage,” Mr Barber said. “It may push prices up, like it appears to have run in other segments. Fortunately, while the government may be pushing prices up, consumers still have a choice.”
The Ram Trucks Australia boss didn’t specify which Ram models may increase in price, by how much, or when such increases may occur, but he suggested Ram prices may not be immune to such external forces.
Mr Barber’s comments come in the second year of the NVES, which sets fleet-average carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions targets for each vehicle supplier.
The targets become stricter each year until 2029 under the current scheme. Brands whose final emissions value remains above zero face an infringement penalty of $50 per outstanding NVES unit, with a maximum civil penalty of $100 per unit if the infringement remains unpaid.
Many of Ram’s products are currently exempt from the NVES because it does not apply to vehicles with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of more than 3.5 tonnes. These include the Ram 2500 Warlock launched this week, which has a 4495kg GVM.
From June 30, 2027, this will change for some models, as a new Australian Design Rule (ADR 114/00) will require certain ‘light-duty’ vehicles with a GVM of more than 3.5 tonnes but no more than 3855kg to have their emissions measured.
Submissions on whether such vehicles should be subject to the NVES from July 1, 2027 closed on July 20, 2026, but no final determination has yet been announced.
The six-cylinder Hurricane-powered Ram 1500 lineup, including the Express Black Edition, Rebel, Laramie Sport, Laramie Night and Limited model grades, falls within the 3500kg-to-3855kg GVM window.
The larger Ram 2500 and 3500 models are above this range, so would not be affected by the proposed 2027 change, which could be why Ram re-introduced its Hemi V8 in a 2500 and not a 1500, where V8s were previously offered.
While the Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado have GVMs below 3500kg, and are therefore unaffected at this stage, the Toyota Tundra’s GVM of 3536kg means it would also be affected if the NVES was extended for light-duty vehicles with a GVM above 3500kg.
The Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series and Ford Transit would also lose their current exemptions.
Multiple manufacturers have raised showroom prices and cited the NVES as at least one reason.
Ford Ranger pricing increased by $250 for every non-PHEV model grade in mid-2025, although Ford did not directly attribute that increase to the NVES. However, it increased the price of its iconic Mustang sports car by a substantial $5000 at the same time, citing the NVES as a contributing factor.
Hyundai Australia also cited the emissions regulations when it announced higher prices for its performance-oriented N models, with increases of between $1000 and $2000 for its i20 N, i30 N hatch and i30 N sedan in September 2025.
Prices of the Ram 1500 also increased in mid-2025, when the price of updated 1500 Limited rose by $3000 to its current sticker of $159,950 before on-road costs.
The new Ram 2500 Warlock undercuts that by $2000, at $157,950 before on-roads. The 2500 has not been subject to a price increase since July 2023, when the 2500 Laramie increased by $9000 to $172,950 plus ORCs, where it remains more than three years later.
Similarly, the Ram 3500 has held steady in price since mid-2023, despite a significant update in late 2025, with the 3500 Laramie retaining the same $177,950 asking price before on-road costs.
Despite criticism from auto executives, including former Mitsubishi Motors Australia boss Shaun Westcott who described the emissions penalties as ‘naive’, federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen has said the government’s transport policies are starting to work.
Earlier this year, Mr Bowen pointed to the first decline in transport emissions since COVID as part of a broader 1.9 per cent, or 8.5-million-tonne, reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions in the year to September 2025, describing the result as encouraging.
MORE: Explore the Ram showroom
