Ram renews interest in mid-size ute for Australia, without confirming local launch

Australian interest, not a model confirmation

Ram’s international product and sales chief Amy Augustine and Ram Trucks Australia general manager Jeff Barber have reiterated their interest in a mid-size ute for Australia. Speaking to Australian media in September, Augustine said she saw a market for one and was still discussing future products with Barber. He backed a vehicle of roughly Ford Ranger or Toyota HiLux size, but cautioned that an Australian model would not necessarily be called Dakota. Neither executive announced a vehicle for local sale. ¹²

The request predates those comments. GoAuto reported that Barber had put Ram Trucks Australia’s hand up for a mid-size pickup in September 2025. In June 2026, Ateco Group public relations manager Joshua Dowling told GoAuto there was no such vehicle available to the Australian distributor, although it wanted one if the opportunity arose. Torquecafe also reported the distributor’s June statement of interest. The September discussion does not establish that a vehicle has since been allocated to Australia. ²³

North American plans and conflicting timing

Ram’s planned North American mid-size pickup is the potential candidate behind the Australian discussion. CarExpert reports that Ram global boss Tim Kuniskis said in late 2025 that the Dakota name would return in the United States. GoAuto says US Ram executives have also associated that name with the forthcoming model, which is being positioned against pickups including the Toyota Tacoma, Ford Ranger and Chevrolet Colorado. Barber’s qualification means the name should not be assumed for Australia. ¹²

The publications give materially different production plans. CarExpert’s September report says Stellantis confirmed a 2028 production start at the Toledo Assembly Complex in Ohio; Torquecafe also describes a 2028 North American arrival and places the project at Toledo. GoAuto’s September 18 report instead says production is scheduled to begin in 2027 at Belvidere, Illinois, with a model-year 2028 showroom arrival expected. Those accounts conflict on the factory and production-start year. None establishes when, or whether, the truck could reach Australian showrooms. ¹²³

Detailed specifications for the North American truck remain tentative. CarExpert says its powertrains have not been revealed and reports that Stellantis has signalled a high-performance SRT version. It also cites an indicated US starting price below US$40,000, before sales taxes and on-road costs. Torquecafe discusses possible four-cylinder, V6 and hybrid powertrains, but presents those as expectations rather than announced specifications. ¹³

The South American Dakota is a different ute

The Dakota unveiled for South America should not be confused with the forthcoming North American pickup. CarExpert reports that Ram has confirmed the two are unrelated. GoAuto identifies the South American vehicle as an Argentina-built model related to the Peugeot Landtrek and Fiat Titano family, with links to the Changan-developed F70. Torquecafe reported at its November 2025 unveiling that it was intended for Argentina and Brazil, not Australia. ¹²⁶

Torquecafe lists a 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel producing 149kW and 450Nm for the South American Dakota, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time four-wheel drive. Torquecafe also reports a 3500kg braked towing capacity, more than 1000kg payload capacity, a 12.3-inch touchscreen and a 360-degree camera for that vehicle. Those are not confirmed specifications for the North American project or any possible Australian ute. ⁶

The route to Australian showrooms

A right-hand-drive version of the North American pickup has not been confirmed. CarExpert says it is also unclear whether an Australian vehicle could instead be converted locally by Walkinshaw Automotive, which remanufactures the Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 for local sale. GoAuto likewise says neither factory right-hand-drive engineering nor access for local remanufacturing has been resolved. An overseas production schedule therefore cannot be treated as an Australian delivery schedule. ¹²

The proposed mid-size model would sit below Ram’s existing Australian full-size pickups, rather than replace one. GoAuto identifies the local range as the 1500, 2500 and 3500, while CarExpert reports that Augustine’s visit coincided with the Australian launch of the Hemi V8-powered 2500 Warlock. The discussion with Ram’s international product chief adds detail to the distributor’s longstanding request, but does not confirm a variant or local launch date. ¹²

Sales and price context

The scale of the segment is reflected in the reported sales figures, although their reporting periods differ. Rodar’s account of VFACTS data places the Ranger first in Australia for January to June 2026 with 26,314 sales, followed by the HiLux on 22,607. CarExpert reported later year-to-date tallies of 32,796 Ranger and 32,161 HiLux deliveries in its September coverage. Those figures describe the established rivals, not a sales forecast for a Ram entrant. ⁴¹

For current-range price context, CarExpert reported in May that the 2026 Ram 1500 Express Black Edition was priced at $109,950 before on-road costs and scheduled to arrive in June; GoAuto describes the local Ram range as starting above $100,000 before on-road costs. CarExpert’s indicated sub-US$40,000 starting figure concerns the planned North American mid-size truck in the US market. It is neither an Australian list price nor a drive-away estimate. ⁵²¹