RAM will finally build a midsize pickup truck

Yahoo

27-01-2025

The fact that one of the big three American automakers has an unfilled midsize pickup truck slot in its lineup is borderline asinine. Although the segment lost some traction last year, midsize trucks are still hot sellers.
The last midsize truck from Dodge was the Dakota back in 2011, and that's almost unforgivable, especially since Ford currently sells a nicely refreshed Ranger, and the redesigned Chevy Colorado is a huge success. Boy, howdy, does RAM seriously need an injection of excitement into its lineup, especially after taking sales hits with its RAM 1500 last year.According to MoparInsiders, Ram CEO Christine Feuell confirmed that the brand will re-enter the midsize truck segment and release it globally with a focus on the North American market. The company currently sells the smaller Rampage in South America, but it's unlikely that the new midsize pickup for the North American market will be based on the Rampage. Feuell confirmed to Motor Trend that RAM has chosen the platform for the new truck.
No name for the new pickup truck has been disclosed, and that probably won't happen until a concept is unveiled. We're guessing the brand revives the Dakota name rather than giving it some generic numeric label, especially considering competitor names like Tacoma, Ranger, and Colorado. Calling it the RAM 500 would be a missed opportunity as the truck needs to stand out since it's a bit late to the game.
Back in the day, RAM was at the forefront of the midsize pickup truck market with its popular Dakota. Introduced in 1987, the Dodge Dakota spanned three generations and was sold here for nearly a quarter of a century. RAM hasn't been vocal about what the new truck will be called, so we can't rule out reviving the Dakota nameplate. It's a recognizable name and a proven truck, so anything's possible.No specific details have been made public, and we're guessing RAM is still ironing those out. A spokesperson at Stellantis stated that the truck will be offered with gas, plug-in hybrid, and even electric powertrains, which should give it wider appeal. It probably won't have unibody construction like the Honda Ridgeline and the Hyundai Santa Fe.
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We're guessing it won't be a 'lifestyle' truck either, but rather a bonafide body-on-frame truck for rugged duties. If this new midsize truck is going to compete with other body-on-frame trucks like the Tacoma and the Colorado, it behooves RAM to take the same approach.
Stellantis didn't specify the timeframe, but according to Car & Driver, the UAW (United Auto Workers) stated that the first units will roll off the assembly line in 2027. It will be built at the Stellantis plant in Belvidere, Illinois, where the Jeep Cherokee was last built in 2023. The plant will reopen and bring 1,500 auto workers back for the new truck.It's too bad RAM can't make this happen sooner, given the fact that all of its competitors have been on the market for years now, so much so that the Tacoma was redesigned in 2023, and the Ranger and Colorado have been significantly refreshed. It's good news that the automaker is finally doing something about this missing segment in their lineup, but they're pretty late to the game, so they better make their new model stand out, or else.