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During the Kepler Cheuvreux Autumn Conference, Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa revealed that Ram’s long-awaited midsize pickup is officially set to arrive in 2027.
“Two weeks ago, it was in our design center in Detroit, and I saw the truck itself, not only the sketches and designs but the clay model. And it’s just beautiful,” Filosa said.
That single line lit up the truck community. After more than a decade of waiting, Ram is promising a homegrown competitor that could go head-to-head with Toyota’s Tacoma and Ford’s Ranger.
Toyota’s runaway dominance may finally face a threat
Toyota hasn’t just been winning — it’s been running away with the entire midsize truck market.
The Tacoma sold a jaw-dropping 130,873 units in just the first half of 2025. By comparison, Chevrolet’s Colorado managed only 52,815 deliveries in the same time frame.
Toyota has been laughing all the way to the bank while Detroit ignored a hungry market. That’s why Filosa’s announcement felt like a shot across the bow. He even doubled down on his confidence, daring reporters to come see the truck for themselves.
“If you want to come to Detroit, we’ll show you without cellphones and cameras, and you will be, I believe, astonished,” he quipped.
That doesn’t sound like a nervous CEO hedging his bets. That sounds like a man holding a royal flush.
Ram learns from past mistakes
Critics might roll their eyes, remembering Ram’s failed Dakota from years ago. But this time looks different.
Instead of building a “pretend” pickup on a unibody design like the Honda Ridgeline, Ram is going back to basics — real truck basics.
The new midsize model will ride on a body-on-frame platform. That means real hauling capacity, real towing power, and real workhorse durability.
This setup will use a shortened version of the STLA Frame platform already supporting the Ram 1500 Ramcharger. It gives the truck flexibility for different engines — from traditional gas to hybrids, and even full electric if the market shifts.
But don’t expect Ram to force an all-electric version right away. In fact, Stellantis recently pulled the plug on the Ram 1500 REV due to weak demand. That shows they’re finally listening to what truck buyers actually want, instead of what green-energy activists keep demanding.
Price and power where it counts
Industry insiders expect Ram’s new midsize pickup to start between $33,000 and $35,000. That puts it right in the fight with Toyota’s Tacoma and Ford’s Ranger.
Compare that with the $41,025 starting price of the full-size 2026 Ram 1500, and suddenly this looks like a bargain.
Filosa also assured investors that “all the specs that we are imagining in the product briefing are very good in the segment.” Translation: Ram wants competitive towing and payload numbers that can go toe-to-toe with Toyota and Chevy.
Made in America — by American workers
Here’s the part that patriotic truck buyers will love most: this isn’t some rebadged import or foreign joint venture.
Ram’s new midsize truck will be built in Belvidere, Illinois, at a factory that’s been idle since Jeep discontinued the Cherokee in 2023.
That’s right — American workers in the American heartland will be building an American truck to take on Toyota’s import dominance.
The Belvidere plant has history in its DNA, having produced classics like the Dodge Dart and countless Chrysler models over the decades. Now, it’s getting a second chance to roar back into relevance.
What this means for truck buyers
Let’s be honest: American brands practically handed this segment to Toyota years ago. If you wanted a dependable midsize truck that could actually work, you had no real choice but to buy a Tacoma.
Ford’s Ranger reentry has been lukewarm at best, and GM’s offerings have never gained traction. That left Toyota laughing all the way to the bank.
But things are changing. With buyers sick of paying $70,000 for full-size pickups, a midsize truck priced in the mid-30s could be a game-changer.
If Ram can match Toyota’s reliability while undercutting it on price, they could pull thousands of customers back to the American side of the market.
The key will be execution. Can Ram actually deliver on all the promises? Or will this just be another Detroit dream that never lives up to the hype?
The bottom line
Filosa’s confidence suggests Ram is serious this time. Choosing a body-on-frame platform and committing to U.S. production shows this isn’t a gimmick.
American truck buyers have been forced to swallow their pride for too long, choosing foreign brands just to get something dependable.
Come 2027, Ram may finally give them the homegrown alternative they’ve been waiting for.
If Ram delivers, Toyota’s stranglehold on the midsize market may finally be broken — and American workers will be the ones who win.
