Get ready for a game-changer in the automotive world: Ram is finally entering the SUV market, and the clues to its identity are hiding in plain sight. But here’s where it gets intriguing—could the name Ramcharger be making a comeback? Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis certainly thinks it’s an obvious guess when asked about the upcoming 2028 SUV. In an exclusive interview with The Drive, Kuniskis playfully hinted, ‘You’d think that would be a pretty obvious guess, wouldn’t you?’ when questioned about the name.
But let’s rewind for a moment. The Ramcharger name isn’t new—it originally belonged to a large SUV sold under the Dodge brand from the ’70s to the early ’90s, built on a shortened pickup truck frame. Sound familiar? History seems to be repeating itself, as the new Ram SUV will share the DT platform with the Jeep Grand Wagoneer, essentially making it a full-size, three-row family hauler. And this is the part most people miss: the Ramcharger name was briefly revived for a range-extended version of the Ram 1500 EV in 2023, but those plans were scrapped in 2025, leaving the name up for grabs.
Is Ram saving the Ramcharger name for its first SUV? Kuniskis didn’t confirm, but he did emphasize the strategic importance of branding. ‘If you look at that space, everyone successful competes with multiple vehicles under multiple brands,’ he noted, pointing to Ford and GM’s strategies with their SUV lineups. Stellantis, Ram’s parent company, initially tried this with the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer but later streamlined their approach. Now, they see an opportunity to leverage their house of brands advantage, positioning vehicles uniquely within the same showroom.
Here’s where it gets controversial: Should Ram revive the Ramcharger name, or does it risk confusing consumers with its past iterations? Kuniskis wouldn’t spill the beans on powertrains or pricing, but he confirmed the SUV will share the Wagoneer’s platform, meaning anything from the Hurricane turbo-six to the Hemi V8s—and even the range-extended electrified powertrain originally intended for the Ramcharger—could fit. As for pricing, he hinted it’ll be ‘fairly expensive,’ but the real differentiation will be in positioning, not cost.
So, what do you think? Is Ramcharger the perfect name for Ram’s first SUV, or should they start fresh? Let us know in the comments—this is one debate you won’t want to miss!
