FCA Prepping Midsize Ram Pickup

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' Ram division is working on developing a midsize pickup that would seek a broader range of buyers than the company's 2020 Jeep Gladiator, which is being sold to lifestyle buyers, the company's CEO said.

In a recent earnings call, FCA's CEO Mike Manley said the Ram team is "very focused on solving a metric-ton midsize truck solution" to fill out the company's portfolio and drive further growth, reports Automotive News.

"I want that problem solved frankly, because it's a clear hole in our portfolio," he said. "It will not be filled with Gladiator, because Gladiator has a very, very different mission. But trust me on that, they're focused on it."

FCA last offered a midsize pickup with the 2011 Dodge Dakota, which was discontinued at the time due to its lower profit margin.

However, in recent years, the segment has become more popular with entries from General Motors and the 2019 Ford Ranger that now compete with the Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier, and Honda Ridgeline.

These trucks provide value to the fleets that use them in sectors such as pest control, landscaping, and inspection, according to recent data from Vincentric about the total cost of ownership of midsize pickups.

The Gladiator starts around $33,500, which is about $8,000 more than the segment-leading Tacoma.

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly mentioned the Dodge Durango as the company's prior midsize pickup. It was the Dodge Dakota.

Originally posted on Automotive Fleet