For a while, it felt like the Hemi V8 was slowly being pushed into the history books. New engines, stricter rules, and lots of talk about efficiency made many fans nervous. But now, something has clearly shifted inside Ram and Stellantis. Quietly, production lines are spinning up again, and the message is simple — the Hemi is not done yet. What’s happening behind the scenes in 2026 could shape Ram trucks for years to come.
Leadership Change Is Driving the Hemi Comeback
One big reason for this shift is leadership. Ram is now under the direction of Tim Kuniskis, a longtime muscle car supporter who understands why people love V8s. With looser fuel economy pressure and a stronger focus on customer choice, Ram’s priorities for 2026 look very different than before.
Late last year, Ram quietly brought the 5.7-liter Hemi back into the 1500 lineup. The response was stronger than expected. Orders quickly piled up, and it became clear that the V8 still matters to buyers. This wasn’t about nostalgia alone. Many customers simply wanted options again, and Ram realized removing choice had upset loyal buyers more than expected.
Stellantis Plans to Triple Hemi Production in 2026
Stellantis has now confirmed it will build more than 100,000 Hemi V8 engines in 2026, which is more than three times what it managed last year. In 2025, around 30,000 Hemis were built, even though demand was much higher. In fact, Ram received nearly 50,000 Hemi orders, but couldn’t fulfill them all due to production limits.
Kuniskis has been clear that this gap between orders and builds won’t continue. According to him, the goal is to finally match real customer demand instead of guessing. Production is already underway, and Stellantis is even exploring ways to expand capacity further so future shortages don’t repeat.
Inside the Saltillo Engine Plant Where It All Happens
All of this work is centered at the Saltillo Engine Plant in Mexico, which has suddenly become one of the most important factories in Stellantis’ North American network. This single plant is responsible for building all Hemi V8s along with the newer 3.0-liter twin-turbo Hurricane inline-six engines.
That workload caused problems last year. Strong demand for Hurricane-powered vehicles like the Jeep Grand Wagoneer led to engine shortages, which even paused vehicle production at times. At the same time, Ram couldn’t build enough Hemi trucks to meet orders. Stellantis now admits these problems came from success, not failure, and it’s working to fix them.
Which Hemi Engines Are Being Built Now
Unlike before, this isn’t just about one engine. Stellantis is producing a full range of Hemis again:
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5.7-liter Hemi for Ram 1500 trucks
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6.4-liter Hemi used in high-performance trucks and SUVs
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6.2-liter supercharged Hemi for extreme models like the Ram TRX
These engines are being built side-by-side with the Hurricane inline-six. Originally, the Hurricane was meant to replace the Hemi completely. Now, Stellantis is treating it as an alternative, not a replacement. That change alone says a lot about where customer demand is heading.
Why Ram Thinks 35 Percent of Buyers Will Choose Hemi
Kuniskis believes that around 35 percent of Ram buyers in 2026 will choose a Hemi V8. Some insiders think that number is high, others think it’s too low. But Ram is confident enough to back the estimate with real production numbers.
According to Kuniskis, 2026 will be the first year where Stellantis truly sees the real mix between the Hurricane engines and the Hemis. When buyers can choose freely, without supply limits, the results will finally reflect real preferences. Ram’s view is simple — some customers love turbo power, others want the feel and sound of a V8, and forcing one option never works.
Customer Choice Is the Real Strategy Here
One of the strongest points Kuniskis keeps repeating is choice. He has openly said that customers hated losing the option to pick a Hemi. Many didn’t dislike the Hurricane engine, they just didn’t like being told it was the only option.
By offering the turbo-six SO, turbo-six HO, and Hemi V8 together, Ram believes buyers will stay loyal instead of shopping elsewhere. This strategy already seems to be working, especially with the return of vehicles like the Hellcat-powered Ram TRX and V8-equipped Jeep models.
What This Means for Ram and Mopar Fans
With space in the lineup across Ram 1500, TRX, Durango, Wrangler Moab, and possibly more, Stellantis has plenty of room to use these engines. Fans are even hoping this momentum could lead to future V8 muscle cars, though nothing is confirmed yet.
What is clear is that Stellantis isn’t slowing down. Even while expanding Hemi production, it continues pushing Hurricane-powered models like the Sixpack Chargers and Ram RHO. Instead of choosing sides, the company is betting on variety — and letting buyers decide.
Hemi V8 Production Snapshot
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Conclusion
So yes, the Hemi comeback is not just talk anymore. What’s happening at Stellantis right now feels like a real reset—listening to customers, fixing past mistakes, and giving people proper choices again. With production already ramping up, leadership fully backing the V8, and demand clearly stronger than expected, 2026 could end up being a turning point year for Ram and Mopar fans.
At the same time, Stellantis is not betting everything on one engine. The Hurricane inline-six is still very much part of the future, and that balance is what makes this move smart, not risky. If things go as planned, buyers won’t be forced into one direction anymore. Instead, they’ll get to decide what matters more to them—modern efficiency or classic V8 muscle. And honestly, that freedom might be the biggest win of all.
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Source(Image / Thumbnail): www.carscoops.com
