---
title: "Ram Dakota Trademark Filing Could Hint at Mid-Size Truck’s Return"
description: "Ram needs an answer to the Ford Ranger and Chevy Colorado—this is (probably) it."
date: "2020-05-05"
modified: "2020-05-05"
authors:
  - name: "Chris Tsui"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/chris-tsui"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/33304/ram-dakota-trademark-filing-could-hint-at-mid-size-trucks-return"
categories:
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
  - "RAM News"
  - "Trucks"
tags:
  - "ram"
---

# Ram Dakota Trademark Filing Could Hint at Mid-Size Truck’s Return

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2020/05/2008-dodge-dakota.jpg>)
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Rumors of an all-new mid-size [Ram truck](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/29662/2020-ram-1500-and-hd-get-sporty-new-looks-colors-and-night-edition-package>) have been swirling for a while now and if a recent trademark filing by Fiat Chrysler holds any significance, the upcoming pickup might revert to its now-classic name: Dakota.

Late last month, Ram parent-company FCA filed a trademark application with the [U.S. Patent and Trademark Office](<https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=88893028&caseType=SERIAL_NO&searchType=statusSearch>) for "Dakota" as it relates to "Parts for vehicles, namely, automotive exterior decorative trim." For those with even a cursory knowledge of pickup trucks or America itself, the mere mention of Dakota has likely already triggered a bunch of nostalgia. In case you need a crash-course, though, the Dodge Dakota was a mid-size pickup produced for three generations from 1987 to 2011, discontinued around the same time the Ford Ranger also began its hiatus.

But as of 2019, the [Ford Ranger is back](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/31653/2020-ford-ranger-breadcrumbs-feature-will-keep-you-from-getting-lost-while-off-roading>) and it looks like Fiat Chrysler isn't planning on letting it (and the Chevy Colorado and Toyota Tacoma) have all the mid-size fun. Sure, the Jeep Gladiator is a thing now and is technically a mid-size pickup but it doesn't really play in the exact same ballpark as those other trucks. It [only comes as a four-door](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/27336/a-two-door-jeep-gladiator-pickup-truck-wont-be-happening-anytime-soon>), for starters, and is built more for [the trail and Mojave desert](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/33064/2020-jeep-gladiator-mojave-first-drive-review-the-jeep-that-jumps>) rather than the construction site.

FCA boss Mike Manley once said on an earnings call last year that the company's lack of a true midsize truck is a ["clear hole in our portfolio."](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/27801/ram-trucks-working-on-entry-back-into-midsize-trucks-report>) Then, in February, a truck that looked a lot like [a mid-size Ram was spied](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/32125/possible-ram-dakota-and-hellcat-powered-trx-trucks-spied-testing>) along with what could be a Hellcat-powered TRX, adding more weight to these rumors.

It's hard to say what platform would underpin the potential pickup, though it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Ram 1500's 3.6-liter V6 make an appearance. Hybrid power is also likely given FCA's contemporary eTorque system that can be found on the Ram half-ton truck and the Jeep Wrangler.

When *The Drive* reached out to FCA, a company spokesperson refused to comment.

*Got a tip? Send us a note: tips@thedrive.com*

h/t: [*Dakota Forums*](<https://www.dakotaforums.com/forum/index.php?threads/fca-trademarks-dakota.1/>)

## Author
Chris Tsui is *The Drive*'s former Reviews Editor and current freelance automotive journalist. He's based in Toronto.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/cltsuii/>)