- Ram confirms the Dakota’s revival after more than a decade.
- The midsize truck returns first to South America, not the US.
- Built in Argentina, the new Dakota shares cues with the Nightfall Concept.
- A separate, US-bound body-on-frame version is also in development.
After being discontinued in 2011, the Ram Dakota is officially making a comeback. Previously known as a small work-ready pickup under Dodge, the nameplate is being revived as a midsize Ram-branded truck. But there’s a catch: the first market to receive it isn’t North America. Instead, Ram is launching it in South America, where the brand sees growing demand for midsize pickups.
Previewed earlier this year as the Dakota Nightfall Concept, the production model for Latin America has now been teased in its final form. Ram revealed the first images and videos of the truck, giving a clear look at its design and interior. The model is being built at Stellantis’ Córdoba Assembly Plant in Argentina and is set to launch later this year in Argentina before expanding to Brazil in early 2026.
Production-Ready and True to the Concept
The production Dakota retains much of the Nightfall Concept’s design DNA – muscular lines, bold proportions, and unmistakable Ram styling. It’s not a rebadged Fiat, despite sharing architecture with the Fiat Titano, and carries distinct cues such as LED lighting, a prominent front fascia, and a rugged, upscale profile.
Inside, Ram introduces a cabin designed around comfort, quality, and technology, complete with soft-touch materials, a large infotainment display, and a digital gauge cluster. The pickup will reportedly launch with two main trims: Big Horn and Laramie Night Edition. However, a third variant, and the one being teased, the Warlock 4×4, adds a tougher look inspired by the brand’s larger off-road models.
Powering all trims is a 2.2-liter Multijet II turbodiesel producing 200 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque, paired with a ZF 8-speed automatic and a standard 4×4 system – a familiar setup already used in the Ram Rampage and Jeep Compass, ensuring proven reliability and efficiency.
Ram
A Different Dakota for the US
Despite its revival, this Argentine-built Dakota won’t reach US shores. According to Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa, the version bound for South America is separate from the American-market Dakota currently under development. The US model, confirmed by Filosa during the Kepler Cheuvreux Autumn Conference, will ride on a body-on-frame platform, directly competing with the Toyota Tacoma, Ford Ranger, and Chevrolet Colorado.
Filosa has personally seen the clay model in Detroit and described it as “beautiful.” Production is rumored to begin around 2027, possibly at a US Stellantis plant, with pricing expected to start under $40,000.
Until then, the South American Dakota will carry the torch – marking Ram’s return to the midsize pickup space and setting the stage for a global comeback under two distinct identities.
Ram
