It’s no secret that Stellantis has two smaller Ram pickups in the pipeline for the United States, the midsize Dakota and compact Rampage.
But the automaker’s plans for more affordable vehicles in North America, its largest and most profitable region, go beyond that. Stellantis is launching 11 new vehicles in the next five years in North America, seven of which will start below $40,000.
Stellantis Plans 7 New U.S. Models Priced Under $40,000—Including Two Under $30,000
Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa said at an auto industry conference in Detroit that the company plans no fewer than seven vehicles priced under $40,000—two of which will cost under $30,000—and extended-range powertrains to gain U.S. market share. He noted that the U.S. market for affordable vehicles represents a “huge opportunity” for Stellantis, the Detroit News reported.
“We have just one car there (below $30,000) today, which is the Jeep Compass,” Filosa said. “So we know that can get there.” The other sub-$30,000 vehicle has not been named yet, but it will likely be the Ram Rampage compact truck.
The executive said Ram was inspired by Ford’s success with the Maverick when it decided to sell the Rampage in the U.S.; the truck is already available in South and Central America.
Stellantis plans to bring the Ram Rampage to North America in 2028, but it won’t just import the version sold in other markets. While the design will be similar, the U.S.-spec model will be engineered for North America and will feature key changes to meet local regulations, powertrain preferences and manufacturing needs.
As for the Ram Dakota, Filosa said the market for such a vehicle is not huge currently, “but it is relevant.” The midsize Dakota is expected to enter production in 2027 and arrive at U.S. dealers as a 2028 model.
Filosa said Stellantis’ new philosophy is all about “freedom of choice” for the consumer and listening to customers and dealers when deciding “exactly what we should change in our product portfolio.”
Stellantis Betting Strong on Range-Extended Hybrids Too
Ram
That’s how the automaker’s pivot to range-extended trucks and SUVs can also be explained. Filosa said it’s driven more by “customer choice” rather than federal environmental regulations that have since been abandoned by the Trump administration.
Stellantis lost $26.3 billion (22.3 billion euros) last year, largely due to unprofitable electrified models. But Filosa says the EREV solution is more a customer choice than a compliance choice because it’s “a perfect powertrain for a niche of customers” who value torque, horsepower and towing capability.
Stellantis’ 647-horsepower range-extended hybrid system combines a battery with a usable capacity of 69.7 kWh with an onboard gas generator—a 3.6-liter V6 Pentastar engine—for recharging on the move.
The EREV powertrain will launch on the refreshed Jeep Grand Wagoneer flagship SUV, followed by the Ram 1500 REV pickup.
