Ram CEO Pushes for Midsize Truck to Fill Lineup Gap

Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis is on a mission to bring a midsize pickup to the brand’s lineup, addressing a glaring gap in their truck offerings. At the 2025 Detroit Auto Show, Kuniskis expressed his enthusiasm for the project to Motor1, stating, “I want a midsize truck so bad.”

The CEO recognizes the changing market dynamics, noting, “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.” This price sensitivity has left Ram without a more affordable option since discontinuing the Ram 1500 Classic.

Kuniskis envisions a solution, asking rhetorically, “Wouldn’t it be great if I had a midsize that was an awesome, capable [truck] to fill in that gap?” He adds, “Yeah, I’d love to have one.”

At the company’s EV Day presentation in 2021, Stellantis first teased a midsize pickup based on the STLA Large architecture. This unibody design was hinted at as a potential platform for the future Ram midsize truck, suggesting a more modern approach to truck design.

Interestingly, former Ram CEO Christine Feuell had previously confirmed that a midsize pickup was in the works, hinting at a possible unibody design based on the STLA Large architecture. This approach could differentiate Ram’s offering in a segment dominated by body-on-frame competitors.

While rumors of a midsize Ram have circulated for years, including a 2023 United Auto Workers (UAW) agreement mentioning production at the Belvidere Assembly Plant, plans have been delayed until 2028. However, Stellantis has already introduced two smaller trucks in other markets: the Ram 1200 in Mexico and the Ram Rampage in Latin America.

The Ram 1200, essentially a rebadged Fiat Titano and Peugeot Landtrek, is a body-on-frame midsize pickup that debuted in Mexico in 2024. It features a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine producing 207 horsepower and 226 lb-ft of torque. Available in single and double cab configurations, the 1200 offers a towing capacity of 6,614 pounds and a payload capacity of up to 2,668 pounds. Pricing in Mexico ranges from approximately $26,600 to $40,000.

Meanwhile, the Ram Rampage, launched in Brazil in 2023, is a compact unibody pickup based on the Small Wide 4×4 platform. It offers two engine options: a 2.2-liter diesel with 200 horsepower and a 2.0-liter Hurricane4 turbocharged gas engine with 272 horsepower. The Rampage is positioned as the most powerful production truck in South America.

As Ram looks to compete with established midsize players like the Ford Ranger, Chevrolet Colorado, and Toyota Tacoma in North America, Kuniskis’s enthusiasm suggests that the brand is serious about entering this crucial market segment. However, with no concrete timeline announced for a U.S. midsize offering, truck enthusiasts will have to wait to see how Ram’s midsize ambitions materialize in the domestic market.

Source: Motor1