Ram has finally confirmed production and launch timing for its long-rumoured compact pick-up. Speaking at the 2026 Stellantis Investor Day in Detroit, Group CEO Antonio Filosa and the Ram leadership team detailed plans for three new pick-ups over the next few years, with the smaller monocoque ute targeted at the booming American compact-truck segment.
The goal is 60 per cent global sales growth for the Ram brand by 2030, lifting volume from 517,000 units in 2025 to approximately 825,000 by the end of the decade. The compact pick-up is central to that growth, because the segment it sits in is one of the few areas of the US new vehicle market that is growing in double digits year on year.
What the Ram Rampage actually is
The new Rampage will be based on the existing Ram Rampage already sold in South America, retaining the name. The US production site has not yet been confirmed. Mechanically, the current Rampage is powered by a 147kW/450Nm version of the MultiJet II four-cylinder turbo diesel or a 200kW/400Nm Hurricane turbo-petrol four, both driving all four wheels through a nine-speed automatic.
Those figures put it above the Ford Maverick and similar compact utes on power but in roughly the same footprint. The diesel option is unusual for the segment in North America and could be the variant that travels best to Australia if Stellantis chooses to extend the model here.
Why Ram is doing this now
US sales of the Ford Maverick compact monocoque ute have exceeded 100,000 units annually for the last two years. Toyota is rumoured to be developing a RAV4-based ute for the same segment. The compact-truck space, ignored for two decades, is suddenly the most contested area of the American market.
Ram has historically owned the full-size 1500, 2500 and 3500 segments. With Ford and Toyota expanding downward, Ram needs to defend the smaller end of the lineup or lose first-time truck buyers permanently. The 2028 Rampage is the answer.
The bigger Ram plan
At the same investor day, Ram also confirmed that the mid-size body-on-frame Dakota will begin production in Toledo, Ohio in 2028. Toledo currently builds the Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator, and the Dakota will share assembly capacity with both.
Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis said the explicit goal is to make Ram "number two in trucks" in the United States by 2030, behind Ford. That is an aggressive target given Chevrolet's current second position, but it is the framing that explains why the brand is now committing to a three-tier ute lineup.
What this means for Australia
Ram Australia, run by Ateco, has built a serious business around the 1500, 2500 and 3500. The brand is now the credible alternative to American full-size pickups against Chevrolet Silverado, also run via a similar conversion model.
Whether the Rampage arrives in Australia is a much harder question. The monocoque compact ute segment in Australia is dominated by the Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux and rising competition from the BYD Shark 6 and Kia Tasman. All of those are body-on-frame mid-size utes rather than compact monocoque utes, which means the Rampage would land in a slightly different niche.
The Ford Maverick has not been sold in Australia and Toyota has not yet confirmed a smaller RAV4-based ute for the local market either. If the compact monocoque ute segment opens up here, the Rampage would be the most credible American entry, and Ram Australia has the dealer network to handle it.
How this could land here
The most realistic path for the Rampage to reach Australia is via right-hand-drive conversion through Ateco, the same model used for the Ram 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado. Conversion economics need volume, and the Rampage would have to compete in a segment that currently does not exist at scale in Australia.
The South American Rampage is already in production, so right-hand-drive conversion is not impossible, but the business case is the question. Ram Australia would need to see real cross-shop demand from Maverick-curious buyers before committing capital to a local programme.
What buyers should do
If you are looking at a compact monocoque ute for Australian conditions, the realistic 2026 buying list is still dominated by traditional mid-size body-on-frame utes. The Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux, Mitsubishi Triton, Isuzu D-Max and BYD Shark 6 cover most use cases. The new Kia Tasman is the cleanest recent entry.
If you genuinely want a smaller monocoque ute, the Rampage is realistically a 2029 or 2030 conversation for Australia, with no confirmed plan in place. The closest local alternative will probably be the rumoured Toyota RAV4-based ute, and even that is still under development.
The Stellantis context
Carseekers has been tracking the Stellantis turnaround plan, which spans Jeep, Peugeot, Citroen, Ram, Dodge and Leapmotor. The compact Rampage confirmation is a positive sign that the broader brand investment is real, not just announcements. Stellantis has committed to 60 new models by 2030, with three of those being Ram pick-ups.
For the Australian buyer, the relevance is indirect. A healthier Ram brand globally means more investment in the right-hand-drive 1500 and 2500 programmes, faster product cadence on existing models, and a higher likelihood that compelling new variants reach the local market sooner. The Rampage itself may not arrive here for years, but the brand confidence behind it is the more important signal.
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The finer details
Your questions answered.
When does the 2028 Ram Rampage launch?
Ram has confirmed production and launch timing for 2028, with the new compact pick-up arriving for the North American market first. The Rampage will be based on the existing South American Ram Rampage and retain the same name.
Will the Ram Rampage come to Australia?
Ram Australia has not confirmed local plans for the Rampage. The most realistic path would be a right-hand-drive conversion through Ateco, similar to the Ram 1500. However the local business case depends on whether the compact monocoque ute segment grows enough here to justify the investment.
What is the Ram Rampage going to compete with?
The Rampage targets the Ford Maverick directly. It also competes with the potential Toyota RAV4-based ute and any other compact monocoque pick-ups that emerge in the American market over the next two to three years.
What powertrains will the Ram Rampage use?
The current South American Rampage uses a 147kW/450Nm MultiJet II four-cylinder turbo diesel or a 200kW/400Nm Hurricane turbo-petrol four, both driving all four wheels through a nine-speed automatic. The North American version may add hybrid or different powertrains depending on the local market.
How does the Ram Rampage compare to the Ram 1500?
The Rampage is significantly smaller, lighter and uses a monocoque rather than body-on-frame construction. The 1500 is a full-size body-on-frame pick-up. They target different buyers, with the 1500 aimed at towing, fleet and heavy-duty use, and the Rampage aimed at urban and light-duty pick-up buyers.
What is the Ram Dakota and when does it arrive?
The Ram Dakota is a mid-size body-on-frame pick-up scheduled to begin production in Toledo, Ohio in 2028. It will share assembly capacity with the Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator. The Dakota sits between the Rampage and the Ram 1500 in the lineup.
