Ever since the Ram nameplate was spun off from Dodge in 2009, the brand has been synonymous with pickups and commercial vans. But that truck-centric identity is about to broaden. Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa recently told Wall Street analysts that Ram will launch its first-ever SUV in 2028, signaling a bold step into new territory.
At a recent briefing, Filosa framed the SUV launch as part of a strategy to offer a “much more comprehensive product range.” The new SUV will hit the market the same year as a new mid-size pickup, which could see the return of the Dakota nameplate. Production will take place at the Warren Truck Assembly Plant in Michigan, which is undergoing upgrades as part of Stellantis’s $13 billion, four-year investment plan. Among the upgrades: nearly $100 million earmarked specifically for retooling the plant for a new large SUV. The facility currently produces the Jeep Grand Wagoneer, which itself is set to receive a range-extender plug-in hybrid powertrain next year.
Details remain scarce on the Ram SUV’s powertrain strategy. According to Automotive News, it will be offered with either a conventional internal-combustion engine or a range-extender plug-in hybrid setup. Whether it will share hardware directly with the Grand Wagoneer is unclear—but given the platform overlap and Stellantis’s penchant for parts sharing, it wouldn’t be surprising.
Ram is also ramping up its performance credentials. Filosa confirmed that the brand will receive two SRT-badged models, marking a revival of the performance division that has mostly been dormant since the discontinuation of the V-8-powered Charger and Challenger. Currently, the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat carries the SRT torch, but that is about to change.
The first of these new SRT models is expected to be a reborn Ram 1500 TRX. Filosa confirmed its existence in July, and the next-generation truck is anticipated to follow the original TRX blueprint: a supercharged V-8 pushing over 700 horsepower, paired with serious off-road upgrades. The second SRT model is more mysterious, though speculation points to a street-oriented performance truck. Ram’s recently unveiled 1500 “The Dude” concept at SEMA—with its lowered stance, 22-inch wheels, vibrant paint, and V-8 power—could offer a preview of what’s to come.
For decades, Ram has been a brand defined by toughness, hauling capability, and reliability. But the next chapter promises something different: an expanded lineup with SUVs and performance trucks that could redefine Ram’s place in the full-size vehicle market. If Stellantis delivers on its plans, 2028 could mark the start of a new era, one in which Ram is no longer just about pickups—it’s about capability, luxury, and performance in a much broader sense.
Source: Ram