Overview
- Stellantis privately showed the upcoming Dakota to dealers at the NADA show in Las Vegas, drawing upbeat reactions that said its proportions square up to Toyota Tacoma and Ford Ranger.
- The North American model will use a ladder-frame chassis with combustion power, positioning it as a conventional, capability-oriented pickup rather than a car-derived ute.
- CEO Tim Kuniskis stressed credible towing and payload as priorities and indicated a V8 will not be offered.
- Hybrid power is under serious consideration, though Ram has not finalized the powertrain lineup or detailed specifications.
- Production is being planned for the Toledo Assembly Complex with a showroom arrival targeted around 2028, competitive pricing in the mid-$30,000s to roughly $40,000, and a design unrelated to the South American-market Dakota.