During a recent discussion at the Detroit Auto Show about the challenges facing the Ram 1500 lineup, Road & Track revealed that Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis hinted at potential new products. Notably, he suggested that longstanding rumors of a mid-size truck joining Ram’s lineup might finally become a reality.

Kuniskis emphasized the need to strengthen Ram’s more affordable offerings as part of efforts to support the automaker and its dealer network. With the DS-generation Ram Classic no longer available for orders, his comments indicate the brand may be preparing to re-enter the smaller truck market.

“I think we can grow more in our sub-$55,000 price point, because I used to have [the Ram Classic] and I don’t have that [truck] anymore,” Kuniskis told R&T. “I’m doing some interesting stuff down there with Tradesmans and Warlocks and stuff like that, but I need to do more there. I need a mid-size truck for sure.”

“We’re a truck brand and we don’t have a compact, we don’t have a mid-size. Kinda disingenuous to call [us] a truck brand, isn’t it?” he added. “So yeah, I need that. I want that, I need that. I’m not telling you that I am going to have it in six months, but I desperately want it, and there is a market for it.”

The recently reinstated executive highlighted the growing success competitors have experienced in the mid-size and compact truck segments. These categories continue to expand in the U.S., representing a significant opportunity for Stellantis to capture a larger share of potential conquest customers.

“If I look at Toyota, they’re doing over 200,000 Tacomas a year. Ford’s doing close to 200,000 between the Maverick and the Ranger,” said Kuniskis. “GM’s doing around 140,000 between GMC and Chevy. There’s a clear, obvious market there that I want to go after. That’s just plus business to [Ram dealers] since they haven’t had that since Dakota.”

Rumors about a mid-size Ram truck have persisted for over five years, but Kuniskis’s comments mark the most definitive statement from an executive so far. The mention of the Dakota stands out, as many fans have long advocated for a revival of the nameplate. Some have even suggested that Stellantis rebrand the Fiat Titano-based Ram 1200 as a Dakota for the U.S. market.

Meanwhile, Ram continues to grapple with production challenges, particularly for its core 1500 lineup. “Right now, I’ve got probably a two-week supply of RHOs, a two-week supply of Tungsten, which is a joke,” Kuniskis said. “When you look at the overall country, you go, ‘Oh, there are a couple hundred out there.’ Well, a couple hundred across 2600 dealers might as well be zero.”

“So, I don’t have RHOs, I don’t have Tungstens, I’m really low on Rebels. The fastest-growing, fastest-turning thing in the industry right now is sport trucks: the Warlock, the Rebel, and the RHO.”

Kuniskis acknowledges the frustration within the dealer network regarding lagging production figures but also commends them for serving as a vital bridge between customers and the automaker during challenging periods. Restoring stability so these businesses can thrive remains the brand’s top priority.

“That’s on us, we gotta fix it,” said Kuniskis. “So, at a base level, at an absolute step one, I gotta get back to the volume that they were at because they’re set up for that volume. Quite frankly, we’re set up for that volume. So, we gotta get back to that volume.”

The difficulties stemming from the Ram 1500 rollout underscore the risks of relying heavily on a single model within a product line. Introducing a mid-size truck would not only diversify the lineup but also be a long-overdue addition that fans of the brand would undoubtedly welcome.