You may have noticed a familiar face in a recent ad for the 2025 Ram 1500 REV electric pickup, especially if you’re a fan of the show, “Detroiters.”
Tim Robinson, who costarred with Sam Richardson as ad man Tim Cramblin on the Comedy Central series that ran for two seasons, plays someone seemingly always ready to embrace questionable untested products — a sandwich stapler, a fridge compactor that makes room for “more of your stuff,” a voice-controlled ottoman that has a mind of its own and an inflatable mansion.
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Not surprisingly, things don’t go so well, although the outcomes are good for some laughs and to make a point about Ram’s electric pickup competitors. For everyone who has ever wondered how to secure sandwich ingredients between two slices of bread, it turns out the first-ever sandwich stapler might not be the answer, as demonstrated by Robinson’s character explaining that the staples are metal to a clearly troubled lunch companion.
The ad, which was produced in partnership with the Ludwig+ agency in Bingham Farms, Michigan, has appeared as a 30-second spot on broadcast TV; a 60-second spot is available for viewing on social media channels.
Robinson appears to be a good fit for a Ram Trucks ad, considering his background. His family has connections to a predecessor of Ram parent-Stellantis, according to spokeswoman Alyse Nagode.
“Robinson is a fellow Detroiter who grew up in Michigan and actually has a strong connection with the auto industry with his mom and wife both previously holding positions at the Chrysler Corp.,” Nagode said. Stellantis brands include Jeep, Dodge and Fiat in addition to Ram and Chrysler.
The point of the ad, which advises viewers, “don’t be a guinea pig, be a ram,” is that it doesn’t always make sense to be first, or a guinea pig, the term used as the ad’s title. The Ram 1500 REV is the Stellantis brand’s first foray into the full-size electric pickup segment, where competitors like Ford and its F-150 Lightning have had a significant head start.
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Stellantis officials emphasized that their goal is to bring an electric truck to market that improves on what’s already out there. The truck, which is expected to be built somewhere in the United States beginning next year, is projected to have a range of up to 500 miles on a charge and tow up to 14,000 pounds, according to what the company announced in connection with the unveiling last month at the New York International Auto Show.
Free Press staff writer Julie Hinds contributed to this report.
Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com. Become a subscriber.