Ram Unveils Name for Its Upcoming Midsize Truck That Will Excite Enthusiasts

Ram is gearing up for an exciting lineup launch early next year, with full details set to be revealed on New Year's Day (mark your calendars to catch the coverage at MotorTrend). Following the announcement, Ram's CEO Tim Kuniskis answered questions from the press, which naturally steered toward the much-anticipated midsize pickup.

While typically cautious about discussing future releases, Kuniskis dropped a hint connecting key points. He explained, “We currently don’t offer a $40,000 volume truck. The only way to reach that price point again is through a midsize pickup. As you heard from Antonio [Filosa, Stellantis CEO], we’re dedicating $13 billion in U.S. investments, part of which is to develop a midsize truck. Will it be called the Dakota? I suppose so...”

When asked whether the new Dakota would carry over the 10-year/100,000-mile warranty, Kuniskis remained noncommittal. “We haven’t committed to that being permanent, but we do see customers investing in Ram vehicles, and the competitive trade-in values have risen from 16 to 28 percent. That’s significant.” So, it’s uncertain but possible.

Currently, specifics on the new Ram midsize truck are limited. However, production is slated to start in 2027 at the Belvidere, Illinois factory, which suggests a potential 2028 model year debut.

Powertrain options are expected to include traditional internal combustion engines alongside a plug-in hybrid variant. The truck will feature body-on-frame construction, aligning it with competitors like the Ford Ranger, Toyota Tacoma, and Chevy Colorado, as well as Ram’s larger 1500 model, rather than adopting a unibody design like the Honda Ridgeline or Ford Maverick.