Ram eyes the return of the Dakota nameplate as part of its plan to resurrect struggling sales compared to other truck brands. During its investor day, Stellantis, which owns Ram, laid out how the truck brand will revive itself. The plans include a new compact pickup called the Rampage and a new Ramcharger full-size SUV. In addition to the new models, Ram also introduced a trio of V8-powered street trucks that will go on sale this year and next.Ram's upcoming Dakota model should be what the Dakota has always been: a midsize truck. The brand has long lacked a midsize competitor, and the Dakota will return to fill that gap. Ram has said previously that the Dakota needs to be a bargain against midsize options that have gotten increasingly more expensive, with a rumored $40,000 price point in the works. The brand, typically, will also look to bring serious power to the segment, saying it wants the Dakota to be the "most powerful" midsize truck on the market.Ram 1500 Rumble Bee Muscle TrucksRamThe Dakota, Rampage, and Ramcharger should all arrive by 2030, and CEO Tim Kuniskis has said that the range-extended electric Ram REV is still coming. However, the brand's forecasting didn't include the truck. Given the American appetite for EVs at the moment, Ram may have opted to kill the range-extended truck, which uses a gas engine to feed an electric drivetrain. Demand for EVs has cratered in recent months following the suspension of federal EV subsidies, and brands like Ram are leaning into gas-powered models while eschewing hybrids and electrics. Ram in particular has lept at this approach, with its three new Hemi-powered street trucks following hot on the heels of a new V8 option for the regular Ram 1500.This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 22, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
