What’s occurred to Ram’s electrical Ranger and HiLux rival?

A brand new Ram ute – which may have served as an electrical rival for Australia’s best-selling Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux – has seemingly disappeared with out a hint, with the US pickup model’s father or mother firm neglecting to say the long-awaited mission in a latest announcement.

Earlier this week, Ram’s father or mother firm – Dutch conglomerate Stellantis, which additionally owns Jeep and Dodge amongst its dozen-plus manufacturers – introduced plans to place its new STLA Massive electrical automobile (EV) platform into manufacturing later this yr.

Between 2024 and 2026, Stellantis claims eight new fashions can be launched on the EV platform, with Dodge and Jeep changing into the primary to learn from the brand new structure.

Whereas it didn’t point out Ram, it mentioned “different manufacturers together with Alfa Romeo, Chrysler and Maserati” will use the structure.

Regardless of beforehand saying plans for a mid-sized Ram pickup to be based mostly on the STLA Massive structure when it was first detailed in 2021 (as pictured above), there was no point out of the mannequin in its newest announcement.

Stellantis now says the platform will underpin solely vehicles, crossovers and SUVs.

As reported in April 2023, Ram was anticipated to revive the Dakota nameplate – affixed to Dodge’s mid-sized pickup from 1987 to 2011 – for the electrical mannequin, which was proven to the model’s US sellers final yr.

In its newest presentation, Stellantis mentioned the STLA Massive platform would accommodate automobiles between 4764mm and 5126mm lengthy, 1897 and 2030mm large, with wheelbases starting from 2870 to 3075mm.

When it first introduced the platform in 2021, it mentioned it will help automobiles measuring as much as 5500mm lengthy.

For context, a dual-cab Ford Ranger Wildtrak – which is known to be shut in dimension to the rumoured Dakota – measures 5370mm lengthy, 1918mm large and has a 3270mm wheelbase.

Whereas Stellantis will introduce a bigger STLA Body EV platform sooner or later, that is understood to be reserved for business automobiles and full-size pickups akin to the Ram 1500, slightly than the Ranger-sized Dakota.

As beforehand reported, the Ram Dakota electrical pickup was anticipated to borrow design cues from the 1500 Revolution idea which was showcased on the 2023 Shopper Electronics Present (CES) in Las Vegas.  

Ram CEO Mike Koval Jr advised CarExpert in April 2023 the model had proven an idea to North American sellers in Las Vegas earlier that yr, and confirmed the mannequin was being developed with worldwide and right-hand drive markets in thoughts.

The model has beforehand confirmed its plans to carry the electrical Ram 1500 REV to Australia, albeit by a left- to right-hand-drive conversion course of just like that of the petrol-powered 1500.

The model’s Australian outpost has not introduced any intentions for the upcoming Ram 1500 Ramcharger – an electrical pickup however with a petroleum V6 as a spread extender/generator – to be offered regionally.