Stellantis to Build New Midsize Pickup in the U.S.
In the past few days, Stellantis managed to reach a tentative deal on a new labour contract in both the U.S. and Canada. One of the things that should not be overlooked in the agreement with the United Auto Workers (UAW) is the promise to build a new midsize pickup in Belvidere, Illinois.
The assembly plant over there was put on idle in March after production of the Jeep Cherokee ended. Prior to the Stellantis-UAW deal, its future was up in the air.
The automaker’s only midsize pickup at the moment is the Jeep Gladiator, which is built alongside the Wrangler in Toledo, Ohio. Since the UAW execs have referred to a “new” truck, we assume the Ram 1500 will finally be getting a little brother.
Now, could it be the Ram Rampage (pictured above) announced in June or a completely different model? It’s still a mystery at this point. The former has more of a compact size and is primarily aimed at South America, but sources familiar with Stellantis’ product planning confirmed to a few media outlets, including The Drive, that the vehicle will also be sold in North America.
On the other hand, former Ram CEO Mike Koval Jr. last year said that a midsize pickup concept was in the works, reviving hopes of a Ram Dakota comeback.
"We've always said we know that on a global basis, probably the biggest area, the biggest white space opportunity for our brand to grow, has been the midsize pickup," Koval said. "We're looking at it, believe me, I am. We'll see, but I am thinking about bringing it and giving our dealers a sneak peek."
Adding to the intrigue is the fact that Stellantis is said to be also planning an EV battery plant in Belvidere, which suggests the new midsize pickup will offer an electrified variant of some kind.
Keep following The Car Guide if you’re just as curious as we are to see how this story unfolds. And stay tuned for big news about the 2025 Ram 1500 lineup coming up next week.
