Ram is Asking Students to Help Design Its Next EV Truck

Stellantis is once again holding its Drive for Design contest encouraging high school students to become involved in the field of automotive design. This year’s challenge is a fun one. Ram is asking students to envision an electrified Ram truck of the future. Ram recently unveiled its Ram 1500 REV battery electric vehicle. The head of Stellantis Design, Ralph Gilles, told me that the electrified platforms allow for some very different designs. The difference in platforms should allow the students the opportunity to show more creativity.

Eleventh Annual Drive for Design

Drive for Design is overseen by Mark Trostle, vice president, Ram Truck and Mopar design. Trostle won a similar contest while in high school in 1987. The contest gives students a taste of automotive design and shows the students the many different opportunities for creativity in the automotive industry.

“Participating in this contest gave me the confidence to pursue the path to a career in automotive design. Now, I want to help students find the connection between their creativity and the automotive industry,” said Trostle. “It is incredible to see our past winners come up through the design school ranks. I even get to see some of them as interns or coworkers in our design studio.”

The winning designer of the popular contest will receive an internship in the Ram Truck Exterior Design Studio this summer. The winner will also receive a Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16 tablet and have their winning sketch featured on Stellantis’ social media platforms.

How Students Can Enter the Drive for Design Contest

High school students in grades 10-12 are challenged to sketch an innovative design for the next-generation Ram electric truck. As the demand for electric vehicles increases, fresh ideas about the future of electric trucks are more important than ever.

All student-created entries must be submitted by April 21, 2023. One grand prize winner and two additional finalists will be selected from all valid entries received.

Prizes for the second- and third-place finishers include an Apple iPad Pro and Apple Pencil, Virtual Day of Design portfolio review with members of the Stellantis Design Team and a scholarship to College for Creative Studies’ four-week summer program, VisCom 1.

Studentsare encouraged to follow the Stellantis North America social media channels to learn about careers in automotive design. Weekly contest updates and content will be posted every Tuesday and Thursday with the hashtag #DriveForDesign.

Make sure students check out the contest rules and information on how to submit sketches. Free resources are available to help students of all ages on www.StellantisDriveForDesign.com.

Strong Legacy of Encouraging Young Designers

Many of the Drive for Design winners have gone on to work for the automaker:

• 2020 winner: Job Skandera (Santa Rosa, Calif.), former intern
• 2019 winner: Max Cooper (Miami, Fla.), current intern
• 2016 winner: Ben Treinen (Loveland, Ohio), Ram Truck Interior Design Studio employee
• 2015 winner: Josh Blundo (Moultonborough, NH), former intern
• 2015 winner: Dongwon Kim (Cupertino, Calif.), current intern
• 2014 winner: Alex Fischer (Rochester, Mich.), former intern

Last year, students were asked to “Envision a future Chrysler product for the next generation of electrified vehicles and mobility solutions.” In 2021, students designed a future Jeep, other years have featured other Stellantis brands like Ram and Dodge. Remember, students have to submit their entries by April 21, 2023.

Ram Photos

Mary Conway is a professional automotive journalist and has decades of experience specializing in automotive news analysis. She covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin.

Follow Mary Conway at @maryconwaymedia and send her car news tips for future stories.