Quick Facts:
- Topic: Ram Dakota midsize pickup and Ram Rampage compact pickup.
- Source: Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa, speaking in Detroit on September 30, 2026.
- Dakota: Body-on-frame truck reported to share the Jeep Gladiator platform; production expected in 2028.
- Rampage: Unibody compact truck, North America in 2028.
- Price: Not announced; Stellantis plans 7 of 11 new North American vehicles under $40,000.
- Rivals: Toyota Tacoma and Ford Maverick.
 5 min read
In This Article
Overview
The Ram Dakota midsize pickup is coming back, and the Ram Rampage compact truck is coming with it. Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa repeated the plan on September 30 at an auto industry conference in Detroit, according to The Detroit News. He named 2028 for the Rampage and said Stellantis wants to be strong where Toyota is strong with the Tacoma and where Ford is strong.
This repeats an earlier announcement. Stellantis confirmed both trucks at its 2026 Investor Day, and Autoweek says both are expected to begin production in 2028. Because Stellantis has released no US specs, powertrains or prices, this article separates what is confirmed from what is reported.
If you shop for a midsize pickup or a small truck, 2028 is more than a year away. The sections below cover each truck, including the rivals you buy today.
Until the Dakota arrives, Tacoma owners have fitted gear to buy today. The LASFIT Floor Mats for Toyota Tacoma, the Tyger Auto T1 Soft Roll-up Truck Bed Tonneau Cover and the TripleAliners 5FT(5′) Truck Bed Mat each list fitment for 2024 to 2026 trucks. Check each listing for cab, bed and trim before you order.
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Ram Dakota and Rampage: What Stellantis Has and Has Not Confirmed
Three points are firm. Filosa put the Rampage in North America for 2028. Stellantis has also named the Tacoma as the Dakota’s target. Ram has no midsize pickup in its US lineup today. This table splits confirmed items from reported and unannounced ones.
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Dakota | Midsize truck; production expected in 2028, per Autoweek. |
| Rampage | Compact truck; North America in 2028, per Filosa. |
| Official confirmation | Investor Day, May 21, 2026. |
| Dakota platform | Jeep Gladiator, per Gilles. |
| Dakota build site | Toledo, Ohio, per Autoweek. |
| Rampage platform | Unibody, shared with the Jeep Compass, per Autoweek. |
| Rampage build site | Not confirmed; reports point to Mexico. |
| Prices | Not announced; 7 of 11 new North American vehicles under $40,000, 2 under $30,000. |
| US specs and engines | Not announced. |
The Ram Dakota Goes After the Tacoma
Filosa said Ram targets the competitor now ranked number one, the Toyota Tacoma, according to MoparInsiders’ coverage of Investor Day. The Tacoma is a big target because it held more than 40% of the 660,412 US midsize sales in 2025, per our VW pickup report.
Stellantis design chief Ralph Gilles says, per MotorTrend, the Dakota rides on the Jeep Gladiator platform, and Autoweek reports body-on-frame construction. Autoweek reports Toledo, Ohio, as the build site, which is where Jeep builds the Gladiator. Tim Kuniskis, who leads Stellantis American brands, has also said the truck must be a real truck at the $40,000 price point, a target and not an announced price.
Build location also separates the Dakota and the Tacoma. Toyota builds the Tacoma in Baja California and Guanajuato today, while its Texas Tacoma expansion moves assembly north over about four years.
Because I owned a Gladiator, a Ram on the same platform gets my attention. Jeep has also placed a Gladiator-based Scrambler SRT pickup on its 2030 roadmap. However, no test drive of the Dakota has been published, and Ram has not said how it will tune the truck for off-road use.
The Ram Rampage Takes On the Maverick
The Rampage is the smaller of the two trucks and already sells in South and Central America. Autoweek describes it as a unibody compact pickup built on a platform shared with the Jeep Compass. Like the Maverick, it uses unibody construction, which means car-based underpinnings instead of the Dakota’s frame.
Ford sold more than 155,000 Mavericks in the US in 2025, according to Autoweek. The 2027 Maverick Hybrid XL starts at $28,145 before destination, per Motor1. Filosa said the small-pickup market is not huge today, yet it is relevant.
Ram has not announced a Rampage price. However, Car and Driver estimates $29,000 to $37,000, an outlet estimate and not a Ram figure. Filosa’s plan lists 2 of 11 new North American vehicles under $30,000. Today the Jeep Compass is the only Stellantis vehicle priced under $30,000.
More rivals are arriving too. Because Ford’s $28,350 Fathom electric pickup reaches buyers in fall 2027, a 2028 Rampage faces more than the Maverick.
What This Means for You
If you need a truck in 2027, buy what exists. Ram has published no price, engine or towing figures for the Dakota. Nor has it published US specs for the Rampage. Waiting therefore means shopping without numbers.
If you drive a midsize truck now, nothing changes for you. Compare the Dakota with your current truck after Ram publishes towing, payload and price. Today’s benchmark is the 2026 Tacoma at $32,145 before delivery, according to Toyota. Ram’s $40,000 price-point goal sits about $7,900 above it, so compare equipment, not only sticker prices.
If you want a small truck, watch whether the Rampage lands under $30,000, where Stellantis places 2 of its 11 new North American vehicles. The benchmark is the Maverick Hybrid XL at $28,145 before destination. Also watch for a US engine, a Dakota price and the Rampage build site.
Since I drive a 2025 Chevy Colorado ZR2, I follow this segment as an owner. I would not delay a purchase for a truck with no price.
Until the Rampage arrives, Maverick buyers have fitted gear to buy today. The TripleAliners 4.5FT Truck Bed Mat for 2022-2026 Ford Maverick, the Tyger Auto T3 Soft Tri-fold Truck Bed Tonneau Cover and the Lumway Floor Mats for 2022-2026 2027 Ford Maverick cover the Hybrid, and only the Lumway listing names the 2027 model year. Check each listing for trim and bed details before you order.
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Final Thoughts
The Ram Dakota is the truck I am watching, not waiting for. I want to see how Ram sets it apart from the Gladiator I used to own. If Ram prices it near the $40,000 mark Kuniskis cited, it sits about $7,900 above the base Tacoma, so Ram has to show what the extra money buys.
The Rampage comes down to a price near $30,000 and a US build site. Until Ram publishes prices, towing and payload, treat 2028 as a plan and not a delivery date. If you already own a good truck, enjoy it and check back when Ram publishes numbers.
FAQ
Is the Ram Dakota coming back?
Yes. Stellantis confirmed a new midsize Dakota at its 2026 Investor Day, and Stellantis design chief Ralph Gilles says it rides on the Jeep Gladiator platform. The old Dakota was sold as a Dodge for most of its run, and Ram says production ended after 2011.
When will the Ram Dakota be released in the US?
Ram has not given an exact release date. Autoweek expects production to start in 2028, and Filosa called 2028 the crucial year at Investor Day, per MoparInsiders. However, Kelley Blue Book reports Ram’s new trucks arrive by 2030, so treat 2028 as a target.
Is the Rampage coming to North America?
Yes. Filosa told the Detroit conference the Rampage arrives in North America in 2028. Ram has not confirmed the build site, although reports point to Mexico.
How much will the Rampage cost?
The company has not said. Car and Driver and MotorTrend both estimate $29,000 to $37,000. Because both are outlet estimates, treat them as guides and not as Ram prices.
Will the Rampage compete with the Ford Maverick?
Yes. Filosa said Stellantis wants to be strong where Ford is strong, and Autoweek says the Rampage will compete directly with the Maverick. Also, both trucks use unibody construction.
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