A new Ram ute – which could have served as an electric rival for Australia’s best-selling Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux – has seemingly disappeared without a trace, with the US pickup brand’s parent company neglecting to mention the long-awaited project in a recent announcement.
Earlier this week, Ram’s parent company – Dutch conglomerate Stellantis, which also owns Jeep and Dodge among its dozen-plus brands – announced plans to put its new STLA Large electric vehicle (EV) platform into production later this year.
Between 2024 and 2026, Stellantis claims eight new models will be launched on the EV platform, with Dodge and Jeep becoming the first to benefit from the new architecture.
While it didn’t mention Ram, it said “other brands including Alfa Romeo, Chrysler and Maserati” will use the architecture.
Despite previously announcing plans for a mid-sized Ram pickup to be based on the STLA Large architecture when it was first detailed in 2021 (as pictured above), there was no mention of the model in its latest announcement.
Stellantis now says the platform will underpin only cars, crossovers and SUVs.
As reported in April 2023, Ram was expected to revive the Dakota nameplate – affixed to Dodge’s mid-sized pickup from 1987 to 2011 – for the electric model, which was shown to the brand’s US dealers last year.
In its latest presentation, Stellantis said the STLA Large platform would accommodate vehicles between 4764mm and 5126mm long, 1897 and 2030mm wide, with wheelbases ranging from 2870 to 3075mm.
When it first announced the platform in 2021, it said it would support vehicles measuring up to 5500mm long.
For context, a dual-cab Ford Ranger Wildtrak – which is understood to be close in size to the rumoured Dakota – measures 5370mm long, 1918mm wide and has a 3270mm wheelbase.
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Ram 1500 Revolution concept -
While Stellantis will introduce a larger STLA Frame EV platform in the future, this is understood to be reserved for commercial vehicles and full-size pickups akin to the Ram 1500, rather than the Ranger-sized Dakota.
As previously reported, the Ram Dakota electric pickup was expected to borrow design cues from the 1500 Revolution concept which was showcased at the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
Ram CEO Mike Koval Jr told CarExpert in April 2023 the brand had shown a concept to North American dealers in Las Vegas earlier that year, and confirmed the model was being developed with international and right-hand drive markets in mind.
The brand has previously confirmed its plans to bring the electric Ram 1500 REV to Australia, albeit through a left- to right-hand-drive conversion process similar to that of the petrol-powered 1500.
The brand’s Australian outpost has not announced any intentions for the upcoming Ram 1500 Ramcharger – an electric pickup but with a petrol V6 as a range extender/generator – to be sold locally.
