Ram’s new CEO, Tim Kuniskis, says that the brand desperately needs a more affordable smaller truck. The UAW union confirms that Ram/Stellantis will open its Belvidere, Illinois factory in 2027 to produce a new midsize pickup truck. Will it be called the Ram Dakota? We do not know this for sure yet, but Ram still owns rights to this name. Here is what we know so far. Let’s dig in!
We know that Ram stopped building the Ram 1500 Classic (DS generation) of pickup trucks. The 2024 was the last model year. The dealers cannot order a Ram Classic any longer. This was Ram’s more affordable entry, and it offered a two-door regular cab. We were so excited by this more affordable option, we purchased one two years ago. We called our Ram 1500 Classic truck “Stubby”. It had a starting price of well under $40,000.
The Ram brand does not offer any smaller or more affordable pickup truck than the new 2025 Ram 1500, which starts at $42,270 before incentives. Yet, the midsize truck segment is doing very well. The midsize pickup truck segment grew by 60.1% in Q4 2024 over the year prior.
We agree that Ram really needs a smaller and more affordable pickup truck that starts in the low $30,000 range. However, all the information we have here suggests that a new Ram midsize pickup truck may be more than two years away from reaching customers. Is it too little too late? We will have to wait and see.
The rest of the market will not remain still. In 2027, we expect to see an all-new relatively affordable electric Ford midsize pickup truck. General Motors, Toyota, and others will not idle along. GM should have at least a mid-cycle update for the Chevy Colorado and the GMC Canyon in 2027. Toyota may have an electric compact pickup truck by then as well.
This will be very interesting to watch. Please join Kase and I for our thoughts on this subject in the video below.
