Ram Has No Plans for a Ford Maverick Rival, Focusing Instead on 2027 Dakota Midsize Pickup

Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis admitted that although he “would very much like” to bring the compact pickup Ram Rampage—already sold in Brazil—to the U.S. market to compete with the hot-selling Ford Maverick, there are currently no concrete plans to do so. The Rampage is built on FCA’s small platform, and adapting it to meet U.S. regulations would require significant investment to pass safety, lighting, and crash-test certifications. Kuniskis emphasized that Ram’s top priority right now is ensuring the successful launch of its midsize pickup, the Dakota, slated for 2027; the Dakota’s market performance will determine whether the company proceeds with developing a smaller truck afterward. Additionally, the brand is concerned about potential internal competition between the Dakota and a future compact pickup. Despite the Maverick’s continued sales growth, Ram will remain focused on the midsize segment in the near term.