Ranger-rivalling RAM Dakota won’t reach the UK • Professional Pickup

RAM has confirmed its forthcoming midsize pickup will carry the Dakota badge, with production beginning later this year at Stellantis’s Córdoba plant in Argentina. The truck will be exported across South America in 2026, but is not expected to reach anywhere outside of the continent, which means no UK model.

The new pickup was previewed in São Paulo with the unveiling of the Nightfall concept, a dual-cab that wears familiar RAM design cues such as a bold mesh grille, marker lights set into the bonnet, and full-width LED lighting.

Off-road touches include raised FOX suspension, 33-inch mud-terrain tyres on 18-inch alloys, skid plates, recovery points, and a Rambar with auxiliary lighting. The spare wheel is mounted externally rather than underneath the bed, emphasising its off-road intent.

Built on Changan platform

Despite the heavy RAM styling, the Dakota won’t be entirely new. Under the skin, the truck is closely related to the Peugeot Landtrek, which is available badged as a Fiat Titano or Deepal Hunter K50 in some territories, all of which are based on the Changan F70 Hunter developed in China.

That means a body-on-frame chassis, and most likely the same 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel with 200hp and 450Nm, already offered in the Titano. Lower-output 2.2-litre and 1.9-litre diesels are also available in some models, but the higher-powered version is expected for the Dakota to remain competitive against rivals such as the Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger, and Isuzu D-Max.

RAM Dakota: UK availability

The Dakota will be the second pickup built at Stellantis’s Córdoba Industrial Complex, following a $385 million (£280m) investment in the facility. The production model is scheduled to launch in Argentina before the end of 2025, before rolling out to Brazil and other markets in 2026.

While the Dakota’s architecture is already engineered for right-hand drive, weaker safety standards in South America are expected to keep the model out of Europe and the UK.

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Phil Huff

Phil Huff, a seasoned automotive journalist since 2011, specialises in new car and van launches for national and regional newspapers, magazines, and online platforms. As the editor of light commercial vehicle publications Professional Van and Professional Pickup, Phil delivers high-quality content for a UK audience of LCV owner-operators and small business users.