Ram Confirms the Dakota Nameplate Is Back
Ram has officially confirmed during a recent media Q&A that the Dakota name is returning, ending months of speculation about what the brand would call its upcoming midsize pickup. Ram had already teased a new midsize truck last fall without confirming a name, fueling ongoing rumors among truck shoppers who noticed the Dakota name still carried plenty of brand recognition.
Filling a Gap in Ram’s Lineup
The revival targets the roughly $40,000 midsize truck segment, a price bracket where Ford and Chevrolet currently have strong-selling competitors and Ram has no direct answer. Reviving a nameplate that disappeared from Ram’s lineup in 2011 lets the brand tap into existing nostalgia while re-entering a competitive and profitable segment.
Platform and Production Timeline
The new Dakota will not share its platform with the Jeep Gladiator, despite earlier speculation. Instead, it will use its own body-on-frame architecture more closely related to the Ram 1500, aimed at giving it towing and hauling capability closer to a full-size truck rather than a scaled-down crossover-based design. Production is set to begin in 2027, with the truck arriving at dealerships as a 2028 model.
Toledo North Assembly Gets the Job
Ram has assigned production to Toledo North Assembly, with projected output ramping up to 100,000 units annually. That volume could bring back workers who were previously furloughed or laid off, and it reinforces Ram’s commitment to keeping the new truck’s production based in the United States.
A Full-Size SUV Could Follow
Ram also revealed plans for a separate, frame-based full-size SUV targeted for around 2028 production at Warren Truck Assembly. The long-rumored Ramcharger name has been floated as a possibility for that model, which would give Ram a body-on-frame SUV to sit alongside its truck lineup for the first time in years.