Ram CEO wants Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux rival 'so bad': Is Ram going to launch mid-size Dakota ute in 2025 to challenge popular Isuzu D-Max and Mitsubishi Triton? Reports

There’s nothing like the floor of a motor show for catching senior automotive executives with their guard down.

And motor1.com has done just that, cornering Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis on the floor of the Huntington Place convention centre at this week’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Asked if he would like a ‘mid-size truck’ like the Ranger and similar offerings in the North American market from GM (Chevrolet Colorado) and Toyota (Tacoma) he immediately spoke from the heart. 

According to Motor1 Kuniskis “positively lit up” when we asked about a new mid-sizer,  enthusiastically responding with, "I want a mid-size truck so bad".

"Everything is more expensive. Trucks are way more expensive. Bread goes up, you still got to eat, right? Trucks go up, you start looking for alternatives.

“I used to have a price point alternative with the Ram Classic. I don't have that anymore," he said.

Motor1 makes the point that there are existing medium dual cab options in the current Stellantis portfolio, including the 2.4-litre turbo-petrol Ram 1200, a version of the Changan F70 (also rebadged as the Fiat Titano and Peugeot Landtrek) sold in markets outside the US. But despite its body-on-frame configuration it’s unlikely to fit the critical US market.

Ram also offers the Rampage in selected South American markets, but this 2.0-litre turbo-diesel ‘unibody’ ute lines up more closely with the likes of the ‘next-size-down’ Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz.

CarsGuide has previously reported on development of the mid-size Ram Dakota, confirmed by former Ram boss Mike Koval, who told us at the New York Auto Show in 2023 that his team was working on it.

Mr Koval went on to promise it would be offered with internal-combustion (likely plug-in hybrid) and electric powertrains, with a pure EV concept shown to US Ram dealers earlier that year.

“I would be doing the team a disservice if I didn’t (offer ICE). I want to be able to sell it in every market around the world," Koval said.

That global ambition could include producing the Dakota in left- and right-hand drive ex-factory, side-stepping the local remanufacturing process currently operating through Ram Trucks Australia and Walkinshaw in Melbourne for larger 1500, 2500 and 3500 models.

When pressed for more information in Detroit this week current CEO Tim Kuniskis told Motor1 (“with a sparkle in his eyes”), "Wouldn't it be great if I had a mid-size that was an awesome, capable [truck] to fill in that gap?". "Yeah, I'd love to have one," he said.