Ram Trucks Australia has confirmed the mid-spec 1500 Laramie is currently not available with the optional Safety package due to semiconductor shortages.
This means the 1500 Laramie isn’t available with safety features such as blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, semi-autonomous park assist, and a surround-view camera.
Reports from early 2021 said the technology was removed due to semiconductor shortages.
The 1500 Laramie still comes with standard autonomous emergency braking (AEB), a reversing camera, and front and rear parking sensors, however.
In order to get the above safety features you currently need to step up to the 1500 Limited, which now starts at $153,950 before on-roads, or the range-topping TRX, which now starts at $219,950 before on-road costs.
UPDATE, 22/03/2023 4:45pm – We’ve updated our headline from “Ram 1500 Laramie loses safety tech” to the current “Ram 1500 Laramie safety tech remains unavailable” after clarification from the brand’s local distributor as to when the technology was removed.
We’ve also added context as to when the technology was removed within the text.
1500 Laramie
A spokesperson for Ram Trucks Australia said the optional Safety Package could return with specific model year changeovers. At this stage there hasn’t been a timeframe provided.
As recently detailed, Ram upped the asking prices of the 1500 by between $2000 and $20,000 in 2022, depending on the variant.
The 2023 Ram 1500 range currently starts at $98,950 before on-road for the Express Crew Cab, and extends to $219,950 before on-roads for the TRX.
The former entry-level Express Quad Cab has been discontinued, though Ram Trucks Australia says there’s still a handful left in dealer stock.
Other tweaks to the specification list include standard electric side steps on the 1500 Laramie, and a standard panoramic sunroof on the 1500 TRX.
The entire Ram 1500 range is currently remanufactured from left- to right-hand drive locally in Melbourne, Victoria. The company recently celebrated converting 20,000 Ram 1500 and 2500 models.
The Ram 1500 goes head-to-head with the Chevrolet Silverado, but will soon go up against the Ford F-150 which is set to arrive in the third quarter of this year.
It’ll also go up against the Toyota Tundra, which has yet to be officially confirmed for Australia but is looking more likely for a 2024 launch.
MORE: Everything Ram 1500
