Tag Archives: Stellantis

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Stellantis Faces Rocky Road in 2025 as U.S. Sales Plunge 11 Percent

While many automakers, including Ford and Kia, are riding high on strong U.S. sales through the first half of 2025, Stellantis finds itself in the opposite lane—drifting into dangerous territory. The multinational conglomerate, home to brands like Dodge, Chrysler, Alfa Romeo, and Jeep, reported a troubling 11 percent decline in total U.S. sales over the first six months of the year. Even more alarming, second-quarter sales dipped 10 percent, highlighting deep-rooted challenges across several core brands.

Dodge: From Muscle Car Icon to Sales Freefall

Nowhere is Stellantis’ slump more pronounced than at Dodge, where sales have nearly halved. From January to June 2025, Dodge moved just 47,481 vehicles—down a staggering 49 percent from the 92,735 it sold during the same period last year. The second quarter told a similar story, with a 48 percent drop year-over-year.

Much of this decline stems from Dodge’s bold but risky decision to discontinue its legendary internal combustion-powered Charger and Challenger models. In H1 2024, these muscle car stalwarts accounted for nearly 50,000 units combined. In 2025, what’s left are clearance sales: just 1,630 Chargers and 1,501 Challengers, remnants of old inventory.

The brand’s bet on electrification isn’t paying off—at least not yet. The all-new Dodge Charger Daytona EV has yet to find its footing, with just 4,299 units sold so far this year. Meanwhile, the compact Dodge Hornet, intended as a volume-seller, also saw its numbers cut in half—down 52 percent to 5,647 units. Only the aging Durango provided a glimmer of hope, with sales up 4 percent year-to-date and 16 percent in Q2.

Alfa Romeo and Chrysler: Caught in the Crossfire

Luxury brand Alfa Romeo isn’t faring much better. U.S. sales are down 34 percent for the year, including a steep 51 percent dive in Q2. The Giulia sedan, Stelvio SUV, and new Tonale crossover have all suffered significant double-digit declines, indicating waning consumer interest or insufficient market positioning.

Chrysler, meanwhile, continues to rely almost entirely on the Pacifica minivan, and it’s proving to be an increasingly shaky foundation. Year-to-date, the brand is down 22 percent, with Q2 numbers plummeting 42 percent. Pacifica sales alone fell 29 percent to 50,335 units—an alarming figure for a brand with just one mainstream product on offer.

Bright Spots: Ram, Fiat, and a Resilient Jeep

Not all news from Stellantis is grim. Ram posted a modest 2 percent increase in first-half sales to 203,984 units, buoyed by its popular line of pickups. Fiat, long a niche player in the U.S., recorded an impressive 95 percent surge, largely attributed to growing demand for its 500 city car, likely helped by rising urbanization and interest in compact electrics.

Jeep’s performance is mixed. While overall sales were down 5 percent year-over-year to 289,398 units, the brand showed signs of recovery in Q2, with a slight 1 percent bump thanks to a steady demand for SUVs and off-roaders.

Leadership in Transition

Amid this downturn, Stellantis has installed new leadership. Antonio Filosa, officially named CEO in June, is now tasked with engineering a turnaround. Insiders suggest Filosa has been quietly steering the American operations for months, but now the spotlight is firmly on him.

The challenges ahead are clear: revitalize Dodge’s transition to EVs, reposition Alfa Romeo and Chrysler to regain relevance, and build on the momentum of Ram, Fiat, and Jeep. Whether Stellantis can stop the bleeding—or worse, prevent a deeper collapse—will hinge on swift strategic moves and a clear vision for its future in the U.S. market.

For now, the numbers speak volumes. Stellantis is on the back foot, and if a rebound is coming, it needs to start soon.

Source: Stellantis

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Stellantis Reboots SRT: The Muscle Car Comeback Begins with Tim Kuniskis at the Helm

Stellantis is back on the warpath to reclaim its muscle car credibility—starting with the long-awaited revival of its legendary Street and Racing Technology (SRT) division.

In recent years, Stellantis has lost favor with hardcore car enthusiasts. The final nail in the coffin for many was the retirement of the iconic Hemi V8 and the subsequent push to label electric vehicles as the new wave of American muscle. The automaker’s attempt to rewrite muscle car DNA left fans cold—and skeptical.

But that tide may finally be turning.

This week, Stellantis confirmed the resurrection of SRT, a name that once symbolized pure, unfiltered performance. From the snarling Neon SRT-4 to the ferocious SRT Viper, the badge has graced some of the most visceral American machines of the past two decades. Though the department was officially dissolved in 2021, a single vestige remained: the Hellcat-powered Dodge Durango. That lonely survivor may soon have company.

The Right Man for the Job

Leading the SRT renaissance is none other than Tim Kuniskis, the man behind some of Dodge’s wildest recent creations—including the quarter-mile-crushing Challenger SRT Demon 170. Kuniskis, who stepped down from Dodge in mid-2024 only to reappear as Ram CEO later that year, will now oversee Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and SRT. It’s a massive portfolio, but for those who’ve followed his career, he’s exactly the kind of mad genius the brand needs.

“We’re getting the band back together,” Kuniskis declared. “SRT is another box we needed to check as we head into a product launch cadence enabling more performance than we’ve ever seen before. We’re working with our product development and technology organization to select the best engineers in powertrain and vehicle dynamics to build a team worthy of the SRT name.”

What’s Next for SRT?

Stellantis says the reinvigorated SRT division will oversee two key pillars: the Direct Connection performance parts program and North American motorsports operations for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram. That includes an NHRA drag racing comeback and Ram’s entry into the NASCAR Truck Series starting in 2026.

It’s a clear sign the company is not just bringing back SRT as a marketing exercise—it’s reestablishing performance at the heart of its American brands.

While it’s too early to say what specific vehicles will wear the SRT badge next, expectations are sky-high. With electrification and hybridization reshaping the performance landscape, fans are eager to see how SRT blends modern tech with old-school muscle.

Your Move, Kuniskis

For now, the enthusiast community is cautiously optimistic. Stellantis made the right move by tapping Kuniskis to lead this reboot, but the next few years will determine whether SRT can truly return to glory—or become another nostalgic footnote.

So, gearheads—what’s your all-time favorite SRT vehicle? And what would you like to see come out of this new era under Kuniskis? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: Stellantis

News

Solid-State Batteries Remain the EV Industry’s Elusive Game-Changer

For over a decade, solid-state batteries have been heralded as the next great leap in electric vehicle (EV) technology—a breakthrough that could render today’s lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) chemistries obsolete. Yet despite years of hype and high expectations, that breakthrough remains just out of reach.

Still, the automotive industry isn’t giving up. Global giants like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Stellantis continue to invest heavily in solid-state battery development, drawn by the potential of EVs capable of traveling over 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) on a single charge—along with the promise of improved safety, lighter weight, and more efficient packaging.

BMW Charges Forward

BMW is among the most active in the space, recently beginning tests of a specially-equipped i7 prototype fitted with solid-state cells developed by U.S.-based Solid Power. These sulfide-based electrolytes are seen as key to unlocking greater energy density and thermal stability. According to BMW, these cells will play a major role in its upcoming Neue Klasse lineup—though full-scale production likely won’t begin until well into the 2030s.

Mercedes-Benz Takes It to the Streets

Not to be outdone, Mercedes-Benz has also begun real-world testing of solid-state batteries, retrofitting its flagship EQS sedan earlier this year with a pack developed by Factorial Energy. The result? A battery boasting 25% higher energy density than current models, in a more compact and lighter form factor.

“These benefits not only lead to longer vehicle ranges but also affect the vehicle design, for example the architecture,” explained Uwe Keller, head of battery development at Mercedes. “Solid-state cells are also less prone to overheating,” he added—highlighting the improved safety profile that makes this technology so attractive to automakers.

Stellantis Eyes a 2026 Test Window

Stellantis—parent company of brands like Jeep, Peugeot, and Fiat—is also partnering with Factorial Energy on its own solid-state battery push. Road testing is expected to begin in 2026. According to Anne Laliron, Stellantis’ SVP of tech research, “Solid state is the North Star in battery chemistry,” offering automakers a unique tradeoff: more range or fewer materials—both of which contribute to lower costs and reduced carbon footprints.

Japan’s Race to the Finish

While Europe and the U.S. continue testing, Japanese automakers are racing to be first to market. Toyota says it will begin production of solid-state batteries by 2027, with Nissan aiming for a 2028 launch. However, given Nissan’s recent internal struggles, timelines may shift—once again demonstrating how challenging commercialization of this tech can be.

The Road Ahead

Despite slow progress, the stakes couldn’t be higher. If the promises of solid-state batteries hold true—greater range, enhanced safety, faster charging, and better packaging—they could usher in a new era of electric mobility. But until the technology scales economically and proves reliable under mass-market conditions, the dream of a solid-state future remains just that: a dream.

Still, with some of the world’s largest automakers now testing real-world prototypes, that dream may finally be inching closer to reality.

Source: Automotive News