By Eve 
Ram just dropped a bombshell, folks: the Dakota name is making a comeback. No more chin-scratching rumors, no more vague hints, straight from the horse’s mouth during a recent media Q&A. And let’s be real, anyone who’s been tracking this saga saw it coming—truck lovers have been buzzing about it for ages.
After years of hemming and hawing, Ram’s finally diving back into the brutal midsize truck wars. They teased a midsize contender last fall but played coy with details, leaving gearheads spinning theories. The Dakota name kept floating around, partly ’cause of its OG status, partly ’cause some South American midsize rig (totally unrelated, by the way) borrowed the moniker earlier this year. Classic case of fan nostalgia meeting corporate mystery.
Here’s the deal: Ram’s gunning for a slice of that sweet, sweet $40K-ish truck pie, where rivals like Ford and Chevy are cleaning up. Right now, Ram’s lineup’s missing a high-volume player in that zone, and the Dakota’s stepping in to fix that. Bringing back a nameplate that vanished in 2011? Smart move—capitalizing on nostalgia while throwing elbows in a crowded field.
Production kicks off in 2027, hitting lots as a 2028 model. And nope, despite the chatter, it won’t be cribbing the Jeep Gladiator’s platform. Instead, it’s rolling out on its own body-on-frame setup, leaning closer to the Ram 1500’s muscle—think towing, hauling, and daily-driver chops without compromise.
Toledo North Assembly’s getting the gig, with projections ramping up to 100K units a year. That means jobs, baby—potentially pulling back workers who got sidelined before. Ram’s doubling down on U.S. roots, no outsourcing smoke and mirrors here.
Oh, and while we’re at it, Ram casually tossed another curveball: a full-size SUV revival’s in the works. Set for around 2028 at Warren Truck Assembly, this beast would finally give Ram a frame-based SUV to pair with its pickups. The Ramcharger name’s lurking in the shadows—looks like Ram’s dusting off the classics as it beefs up its American lineup. Game on.
John 
Shawn Henry