Dodge, Ram boss Tim Kuniskis to retire from Stellantis

Detroit – starDodge and Ram brand executive Tim Kuniskis is retiring after a nearly 32-year career with the automaker and its predecessors, the company announced Friday.

Kunisakis, who has led several of the automaker’s brands in North America, is best known for leading Dodge for much of the past decade or so. He is considered “father” Dodge’s high-performance Hellcat models and “unofficial spokesperson” Suitable for American muscle cars.

During his tenure, Dodge reestablished itself as the quintessential American muscle car brand. The brand has launched vehicles such as the Challenger and Charger Hellcat models with more than 700 horsepower and the controversial Challenger Demon drag racer.

Kuniskis will be succeeded by Chrysler brand CEO Christine Feuell, who will lead Ram outside of Chrysler, while Matt McAlear will be promoted from Dodge’s sales chief to brand CEO and become a member of Stellantis’ senior management team. The appointments will be effective June 1, the company said.

The changes come as Stellantis undergoes a restructuring that includes layoffs and cost cuts. The company’s U.S. sales fell 1.2% last year, while sales in the U.S. market grew 12.3%. The company was the only major automaker to report an annual decline, according to Automotive Intelligence data.

Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis, said: “I would like to take this opportunity to warmly thank Tim for his passion, commitment and contribution to Stellantis, and for defining his vision for the future of electrification for the Ram and Dodge brands. I wish him the best in his retirement.” said in a press release. “I am confident that Chris will continue Tim’s work leading the iconic Ram brand. Matt will bring a fresh perspective while continuing to draw on the legacy of our iconic Dodge brand to lead the brand’s transformation into a sustainable future.

While the company didn’t invest in entirely new products for Dodge, Kuniskis, a salesperson and marketer, was able to increase awareness and sales of the brand’s Charger, Challenger and Durango vehicles over the years.Dodge often increases by V-8 engine performance Or announce a new “buzz” model.

Kuniskis has been a member of Stellantis’ senior management team since the merger of Fiat Chrysler and French automaker PSA Group in January 2021 to form Stellantis. Sergio Marchionne served on Fiat Chrysler’s senior board of directors.

Kunisakis’ departure is the latest in a series of changes since the automaker’s founding.Recent changes include a shakeup in Jeep’s top management; Mark Stewart, head of North America, leaving to become CEO goodyear tire and rubber company.; The company’s international operations in South America and the Asia-Pacific region, including China, were also reorganized late last year.