ZMD Motors Developing Electric Conversion for Ram 5500 Work Trucks
A Detroit-based startup is taking early steps toward developing an electrified medium-duty work truck built on the Ram 5500 chassis, according to a report by Automotive Fleet on March 9, 2026.
ZMD Motors, founded in early 2025 by Dave Stenson, a former General Motors engineering veteran with nearly three decades at the company, is developing an electric conversion system for Class 4-6 pickup-style chassis-cab trucks. Rather than building vehicles from scratch, the company plans to receive new Ram 5500 chassis directly from the manufacturer through a ship-thru logistics process, then route them to a contract manufacturing facility likely in the Midwest where its electrification systems would be installed. The specific contract manufacturing partner has not been publicly identified.
The company said it would cover its electrification subsystems and associated labor under its own warranty, while the base vehicle warranty would remain with the original manufacturer. ZMD Motors declined to say whether it has any formal arrangement with Ram.
Stenson said he created ZMD Motors to address a gap in medium-duty segments where battery-electric options have been limited. “ZMD Motors is highly nimble, built to collaboratively create new zero-emission product offerings that fleet customers are waiting for in select markets,” he said.
Early commercial focus is expected to land on public-sector customers, including municipal, state, and utility fleets, which tend to operate predictable duty cycles and return to central depots for overnight charging. California is seen as a likely initial market given state air-quality rules and policies that push zero-emission adoption among public-sector fleets.
ZMD Motors is targeting a potential launch around the 2027 model year, contingent on development progressing as planned.
ZMD Motors is based at Newlab/Michigan Central in Detroit and says it is building its supply chain and manufacturing partnerships around the regional industrial base. The company said its go-to-market model includes a distribution network designed to keep parts and trained service technicians close to customer fleets. Stenson said the absence of engines, transmissions, and their associated systems should translate to higher uptime compared to conventional work trucks.
The company is currently in seed-stage fundraising and building industry relationships. Its founding team and board draw on decades of vehicle product development experience, which Stenson said is critical given the distinct demands of commercial fleet customers compared to retail EV buyers. ZMD Motors sees its niche as the space between light-duty electrified pickups, which it views as underspecified for vocational work, and last-mile delivery vehicles such as vans and box trucks, leaving Class 4-6 chassis-cab trucks largely underserved by purpose-built electric options.
