2027 Dodge RAM 3500: Ram Confirms Long-Awaited Midsize Truck Coming in 2027. Ram will return to the segment it left in 2011. It will build a new vehicle at its Belvidere, Illinois, plant, which has been closed since 2023.
For years, there have been rumors that Ram would return to the midsize truck market, which it left when Dodge stopped making the Dakota in 2011. It was said that dealers were given a concept for an all-electric midsize truck in 2023. Soon after, a gasoline-powered Rampage that had been sold in Brazil was seen testing on U.S. roads. It’s now official: Ram will make a new midsize pickup truck, and production should start within the next two years.
Stellantis, the corporation that owns Ram, confirmed the change in a message that said production would start up again at its Belvidere, Illinois, plant, according to AN. Illinois Senator Dick Durbin repeated the claim on social media. Car and Driver also contacted Ram to confirm, and a representative responded, “We will stick to the schedule set out in the 2023 Collective Bargaining Agreement for a 2027 launch.” We plan to use our multi-energy strategy (ICE, PHEV, and BEV) to its fullest with this new midsize vehicle.
The Belvidere plant has been closed since February 2023, but it will return to make a new midsize truck and bring back about 1,500 UAW-represented workers. The United Auto Workers (UAW) say that manufacture of the vehicle will begin in 2027, although Stellantis documents don’t give a date for when this would happen.
In late 2023, when Stellantis and the UAW agreed to stop a huge union strike, we first heard about the prospect of a new Ram mid-size car at Belvidere. This led to the disclosure of documents that showed Stellantis’ production plan. The plant made the Jeep Cherokee until it stopped making them in 2023. In 2019, there were roughly 5,000 workers there, but only 1,350 remained when manufacturing stopped.
There isn’t much information on the truck itself. It will, however, have a number of powertrain choices, including as gasoline, electric, and plug-in hybrid models. It probably isn’t done yet because it will take about two years to make. We think that the unnamed midsize truck will be built with body-on-frame construction, probably a shorter version of the STLA Frame platform that supports the Ram 1500 Ramcharger plug-in hybrid and the new electric Ram 1500 REV.
Last year, Stellantis went into detail about their body-on-frame platform, which can hold cars with wheelbases between 123.7 and 145.3 inches. The Ford Ranger, Toyota Tacoma, and Chevy Colorado are all midsize trucks that compete with Ram. Over the next three years, more information regarding Ram’s midsize truck will come out.
- Automotive News was the first to say that Ram will start making a new midsize truck in 2027.
- The truck will be made in Belvidere, Illinois, at a site that hasn’t been used since Jeep Cherokee production stopped in 2023.
- A Stellantis official told Car & Driver that the new mid-size car will have electric, gas, and plug-in hybrid powertrains.
2027 Dodge RAM 3500 Reviews
People who love trucks and work in the car business have been asking the same question for years: When will Ram bring back their midsize pickup truck? We finally have a clear explanation, thanks to Antonio Filosa, the CEO of Stellantis. Filosa stated in a casual conversation at the Kepler Cheuvreux Fall Conference on Thursday that Ram’s much anticipated midsize truck will officially be available in 2027.
This is a big step forward for Ram because it fills a hole in the lineup that has been there since the Dodge Dakota went out of production in 2011. This is the first time Stellantis leaders have given a clear schedule for the new pickup, even though there have been whispers about it for years. Filosa says that this truck isn’t just arriving; it’s going to make a statement.
A Look Behind the Curtain
Filosa said that he had the chance to see more than just the truck’s sketches recently. “I saw the truck in person two weeks ago at our design center in Detroit. I saw the sketches and designs as well as the clay model,” he stated. “And it was so pretty.”
He even joked with investors, telling them to come to Detroit to witness it for themselves, but they couldn’t bring their phones or cameras. He quipped, “If you want to come to Detroit, we’ll show you without phones and cameras, and you’ll be amazed.” This level of confidence shows how crucial this car is to Ram’s future.
Filling the Gap Left by the Classic Ram 1500
The Ram 1500 Classic will no longer be made after October 2024. This means that Ram won’t have any trucks that are truly economical around $40,000. This leaves a big hole in the lineup, especially as the costs of full-size pickups are going up.
Tim Kuniskis, the CEO of Ram, has said that this new midsize truck will be a spiritual successor to the Classic. It will be a cheap way for people to get into the Ram brand. This midrange alternative is perfect for anyone who can’t afford a new Ram 1500 right now.
The Right Way to Build: Body-on-Frame
During its EV Day presentation in 2021, Stellantis shocked a lot of people by saying that its midsize truck would employ a unibody chassis like the STLA Large. People who buy regular trucks didn’t like this notion since they want trucks that are really tough and useful.
MoparInsiders.com has now confirmed through its sources that Ram’s midsize truck will have a body-on-frame (BoF) architecture, which is the same strong base that the Ford Ranger, Chevrolet Colorado, and Toyota Tacoma use. This choice makes sure that Ram will be a strong competitor in this market, instead of following in the footsteps of the Honda Ridgeline, which is a lifestyle truck.
Where will it be built?
Stellantis first said that the truck will be made at the Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois, which had never been used before. But there are murmurs in the industry that a final decision hasn’t been made yet. The Toledo plant, which makes the Jeep® Wrangler and Gladiator, or even Warren Truck, which isn’t using all of its BoF capability, are other options.
If production moves out of Belvidere, Stellantis will have more options because the plant will be able to make unibody vehicles. But Belvidere is still a good possibility, especially because the present administration is focused on making cars in the US.
Lessons from the Past and a Look Ahead
Dodge had a hard time selling the Dakota last time because it was too big and too expensive compared to the Ram 1500. People thought it was a better deal to upgrade to a full-size truck with a HEMI® engine. But things have changed. The average price of a half-ton pickup truck has gone through the roof, so there is now room for a mid-size truck that is reasonable, useful, and still feels like a “Ram.”
Filosa and Kuniskis realized they had to find the appropriate amount. The new Ram pickup may be a wonderful alternative if it costs the same as the Ford Ranger, which starts at $33,330 and goes up to $56,070 for the high-performance Raptor. If it were put in the right place, it wouldn’t hurt sales of the 1,500 units; instead, it would bring in new customers who had been waiting for a low-cost Ram.
How about the Dakota Tribe in South America?
Ram has also stated that a new Dakota midsize truck will be made in Argentina starting later this year. This is even more fascinating. But don’t get your hopes up; it won’t be coming to the US.
The South American Dakota is made on the same production line as the Fiat Titano and is made just for that market. The crazy “Nightfall” concept version, which had off-road parts including FOX™ shocks, skid plates, beadlock wheels, and a spare tire on the truck, even came out in Brazil. It’s a tough truck, but Americans don’t want it.
On the other hand, the North American midsize Ram will be bigger, made in the US, and built to fit the needs of this market. It is yet unclear if it will bring back the Dakota name or go in a new way, but one thing is for sure: it will be its own truck.
Why This Truck Matters
The midsize Ram isn’t just another model for Stellantis; it’s a key part of the puzzle. Ram might lose budget-conscious customers to Ford, GM, Toyota, and Nissan if they don’t make a vehicle that costs less than $40,000. And since the pickup truck market is getting more and more competitive, Ram can’t afford to stay still.
Filosa’s promise to launch in 2027 makes it apparent that Ram is ready to come back to the midsize truck market with a real truck that is designed well and priced competitively. Ram could be ready for a big comeback if the clay model Filosa saw is as good as he says it is.
Verdict
The 2027 Dodge Ram 3500 is a dramatic return to the midsize truck market for Ram. It combines new technology, great performance, and smart design for today’s driver. This new pickup is built on a solid body-on-frame base and has many different energy options. It will change the way people think about value and capability. Stay ahead of the curve by bookmarking our site and checking out more strong truck insights. You’ll never miss the latest automotive advances.
