The Midsize Pickup Game Is Finally Getting the Mopar Competitor It’s Been Sorely Lacking

A new Dodge Dakota successor is happening and is scheduled to arrive by 2028.

Close-up of a black RAM truck grille with bold RAM lettering and an R/T badge at sunset.

Published October 16, 2025

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Updated October 16, 2025

After being absent for nearly two decades, a new Mopar-based midsize pickup is in order to reach production before the end of the decade. Parent company Stellantis confirmed its impending arrival during its annual investor meeting. In the same conference, it also confirmed that a new Dodge Durango is in the works.

It’s been 15 years since the Auburn Hills manufacturer produced a smaller, midsize pickup truck below the full-size Ram. The last model of its kind was the Dodge Dakota, which started life in 1987.

The Dakota lived for three generations before Dodge discontinued the model to focus more on refining and bettering their full-size offerings.

Red Dodge Dakota Sport pickup truck with extended cab and silver alloy wheels on gray background. — The Dodge Dakota was Mopar’s last midsize pickup.

Since then, many thought midsize pickups were dying in favor of their larger brethren. But examples from Japan, like the Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier, proved that pickup fans still want smaller, more affordable options.

Better late than never

Red Ram Rampage pickup truck with black grille and off-road tires on a gray studio floor. — Stellantis introduced the midsize, unibody Ram Rampage for Brazil only in 2024.

Despite the temporary dip in midsize pickup options, the domestic Big Three realized they were missing out on a key market. As a result, General Motors created the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon to revive the spirit of the original S-10 and GMC Sonoma.

Ford also joined the midsize pickup truck party, albeit a bit late, with the revival of the Ranger in 2019. Since then, it’s been Mopar’s move to produce something similar.

a photo of a yellow ford ranger on a studio backdrop — The current Ford Ranger is a foreign market model domesticated for North America.

However, years of tumultuous changes in corporate ownership prevented Dodge or Ram from truly pursuing a midsize option for North American buyers. It was only recently that Ram was able to brew up its own midsize pickup specifically for foreign export markets.

The result was the Brazil-only Ram Rampage.

Stellantis will build its new midsize pickup in Ohio

Red RAM pickup truck kicking up dust while driving on a dirt road near a body of water. — The Ram Rampage could make its way to America as Stellantis’ midsize pickup offering.

During the outlining of its massive $13 billion investment into American manufacturing, Stellantis confirmed the new pickup. It also confirmed its assembly at the company’s Toledo Assembly Complex in Ohio.

It’s the same facility where the automaker currently builds Jeep Wranglers and Gladiators. That said, Stellantis will share the production line with Jeep to build this new Mopar pickup.

Red RAM pickup truck driving on a dusty dirt road with trees and clear blue sky in the background. — Such a move isn’t unlikely as Ford also made similar decisions when reviving the Ford Ranger.

Specifics about the pickup still aren’t readily available. But rumors suggest the new midsize pickup could be a domesticated version of the Brazilian Ram Rampage.

Such a move isn’t unlikely as Ford also made similar decisions when reviving the Ford Ranger. Although the current Ford Ranger didn’t arrive in North America until 2019, it already existed in foreign markets. It’s been a popular vehicle in Australia, Asia-Pacific, Europe and even Latin America.

Dark gray RAM pickup truck with "RAMPAGE" license plate driving on a curved road at sunset. — Currently, the Rampage is only available for Brazilian customers.

Ford of North America basically federalized that export-market Ranger as a part of its global unification strategy.

It’s unknown if Stellantis will do the same with this new midsize pickup. Since the Dakota, Stellantis’ Mopar division rebranded all of its pickups singularly under the Ram brand. Previously, the pickups were badged and marketed as Dodge Rams.

Red RAM pickup truck with black trim and off-road tires, shown from the rear side on a gray surface. — A new midsize pickup from Auburn Hills will be the first in nearly two decades.

That said, it’s likely the new pickup will follow in the same footsteps. We anticipate it will be branded and sold specifically as a Ram model.

About the Author: Chris Chin is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, trucks and anything else with four wheels. He has over a decade of experience writing news and reviews but considers himself an enthusiast first, with a passion for classics and European cars. His daily driver is a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL with nearly 250,000 miles (87,000 are his).

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