RAM's electric Hilux, Ranger rival reportedly shown to dealers

RAM is set to unleash an all-electric, Hilux-sized dual-cab ute into the US market.

New reports suggest that American RAM dealers were shown a new “midsize” electric pick-up at a secret meeting in Las Vegas. The new ute could mark a return to the midsize utility segment RAM left in 2011, and could be named after that same vehicle – the Dakota.

Details are scant, the dealers reporting that the Ranger-sized dual-cab ute is intended for a customer who wants a stylish option, rather than a full-size pick-up.

"We're going to be back in that [midsize] game," dealer Randy Dye told American industry journal Automotive News.

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RAM Revolution Electric concept

"Without a doubt, it looks like a Ram. I look at some of the other midsize offerings in the market, and I'm not going to pick on the individual brands, but I don't think they always favour their mother brand. The midsize ones have seemed to get away, and they don't look the same. This is very much a Ram."

Other dealers said the production midsize ute previewed styling first teased by RAM’s Revolution electric concept pick-up, revealed at the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. While larger, the Revolution could also hint at future ideas set to be incorporated into a production model.
Those include an an electrically opening and closing bonnet under which is a large carpeted storage area (also known as a ‘frunk’).

Extending the storage solutions further, the Revolution concept’s passenger compartment can be opened at the rear, effectively extending the tray-bed into the interior with the rear seats folded down. RAM says this “pass-through” storage can accommodate items up to 5.4 metres long.

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RAM Revolution Electric concept interior

Meanwhile its minimalist interior is dominated by not one, but two, supersized Tesla-esque central displays offering 28 inches of total touchscreen space. One of which can act as a removable tablet.

The Revolution concept is based on Stellantis’s STLA Frame architecture, which is 800-volt EV-ready and able to support large battery packs from 159kWh to a jumbo 200kWh, offering up to 800km range. It can also accommodate up to 350kW fast-charging.

“We see concepts change by the time they get to production, but it's very, very encouraging,” Pennsylvania RAM dealer David Kelleher told Automotive News. “I think it keeps the lineage of Ram, which is really exciting, and I think it brings us back to a segment where we've been vacant for too long.”

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The new midsize RAM would sit below the recently unveiled 1500 REV electric utility (above) and join other electric utility players new to the market such as Ford’s red-hot F-150 Lightning, Geely’s Radar and Australia’s first electric ute, the LDV eT60.

Australia is RAM’s biggest market outside the US, offering the 1500 and 2500/3500 pick-up utes. With more than 600 employees at its Clayton, Victoria, facility, RAM is Australia’s biggest automotive manufacturer, converting vehicles from left- to right-hand-drive with an annual production capacity of 20,000 vehicles.

Local RAM importer Ateco was coy on the as-yet-unannounced electric ute’s chances for Australia when contacted by Wheels.

“RAM Trucks Australia is working closely with our colleagues in the US on the local product roadmap, and look forward to communicating more in due course,” said spokesperson Oliver Peagam.