RAM's HiLux fighter for Oz

RAM has confirmed it will produce an all-new one-tonne pick-up to rival the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger – and it will be sold in Australia.

The new mid-size RAM pick-up was confirmed by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles as part of its five-year business presentation to investors in Italy late Friday.

FCA Australia will not comment on the plan presented by outgoing FCA chief Sergio Marchionne or the RAM, Jeep, Alfa Romeo or Maserati models promised within it.

However, the as-yet-unnamed “metric-ton” pick-up will be a global model produced in Saltillo, Mexico from 2021 and motoring.com.au understands Australia will be near the front of the export queue.

Marchionne said the new RAM ute will not be solely focussed on the US market but rather "every global market".

Indeed he made it obvious that RAM will target lucrative mid-size pick-up markets such as Australia, which is about fourth in the global pecking order, by stating that the "majority" of the new RAM ute’s sales volumes will come from outside the US.

FCA has forecast its new HiLux and Ranger competitor will push RAM's global sales to one million units by 2022, by which time it expects to have overtaken Chevrolet as North America’s number two commercial vehicle brand.

Global RAM and Jeep brand boss Mike Manley expounded further, adding that it will be badged as both a RAM and Fiat for various global markets.

FCA already sells a RAM 1200 in the Middle East and a Fiat Fullback in Europe – both based on the Mitsubishi Triton – so it’s possible RAM could retain those names for those markets.

There’s speculation FCA could revive the RAM Dakota name last seen in 2011 for the US market, so all three names are possibilities for Australia.

RAM already offers big US pick-ups in Australia in the form of the RAM 2500 and 3500 models, which are imported from the US then converted from left- to right-hand drive by the Walkinshaw Group for American Special Vehicles (ASV), which is owned by FCA’s New Zealand distributor Ateco Group.

However, these vehicles start from around $140,000 in Australia, and the smaller RAM 1500 to be launched next week will be the first to undercut $100,000.

The all-new MY19 RAM 1500 (pictured) is still some time away from Australia and will be followed by new heavy-duty RAM 2500 and 3500 models, which will be launched in the US in January 2019.

But a factory-built right-hand drive RAM dual-cab one-tonner could start from below $40,000 in Australia, in line with its rivals.

As the popularity and profitability of mid-size pick-ups -- or utes, as they’re known here colloquially -- continues to grow in markets like Australia, South East Asia, Latin America and North America, more brands are jockeying to get a piece of the action.

The HiLux and Ranger are already consistently Australia’s two top-selling new vehicles bar none, and light commercial vehicles account for 20 per cent of the market.

The new Mercedes-Benz X-Class is the latest to join the (top-end of) local pick-up segment and should eventually be followed by another Nissan Navara-based ute, the Renault Alaskan, while Hyundai and Kia have also signalled their intention to join the segment by 2021.

RAM’s new one-tonner will not only bring a barn-load of load-lugging and off-road pedigree from the US, but also a fresh face to the popular ute segment, the vast majority of the players in which come from Thailand.