To replace the Dakota, which ends production in 2011, Chrysler may develop a uni-body compact pickup positioned below the outgoing model.

“We’re thinking of something that will separate itself from the full-sized truck more than what happens today, both in capability, price and size,” said Joe Veltri, Chrysler Group vice president of product planning. “The Ram brand has room to expand into a compact-truck segment.”

Veltri said that Chrysler has abandoned plans to produce a mid-sized truck on a uni-body platform.

He pointed out that in the 1980s, compact pickups had annual sales of about 1.5 million units, more than full-sized pickups. Last year, compact pickup sales were down 31 percent compared with 2008 to 270,348.

- By: Kap Shah

Source: AutoWeek