Tim Kuniskis, head of Fiat Chrysler’s passenger vehicle division in North America, introduces the 2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat SUV at an online event on July 2, 2020.
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DETROIT – StellarTim Kuniskis, CEO of the Dodge and Ram brands, is retiring after a nearly 32-year career with the automaker and its predecessors, the company announced Friday.
Kuniskis, who led several of the automaker’s brands in North America, is best known for leading Dodge for much of the last decade or so. He is considered the “father” of Dodge’s high-performance Hellcat models and the “unofficial spokesman” for American muscle cars.
During his tenure, Dodge re-established itself as a quintessential American muscle car brand. The brand achieved this with vehicles such as the more than 700 hp Challenger and Charger Hellcat models as well as the controversial Challenger Demon drag race cars.
Kuniskis will be replaced by Chrysler brand CEO Christine Feuell, who will lead both Chrysler and Ram, and Matt McAlear, who will be promoted from Dodge sales director to brand CEO and member of Stellantis’ top leadership team. The appointments are effective June 1, the company said.
2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170
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The changes come as Stellantis undertakes a restructuring that includes layoffs and cost cuts. The company has struggled with U.S. sales, which fell 1.2% last year while the market grew 12.3%. According to Motor Intelligence data, the company was the only major automaker to post an annual decline.
“I would like to take this opportunity to warmly thank Tim for his passion, commitment and contributions to Stellantis and for defining the vision of the future electrified Ram and Dodge brands. I wish him all the best in his retirement,” Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares said in an interview. “I am confident that Chris will continue Tim’s work in leading the iconic Ram brand. Matt will bring a fresh perspective as he continues to draw on the heritage of our iconic Dodge brand and lead the brand’s transition toward a sustainable future.”
While the company did not invest in entirely new products for Dodge, Kuniskis, a salesman and marketer, was able to increase awareness and sales of the brand’s Charger, Challenger and Durango vehicles over the years. Dodge often generated interest by increasing the power of the V-8 engine or announcing new “buzz” models.
Kuniskis has been a member of Stellantis’ top leadership team since the company was formed in January 2021 through a merger between Fiat Chrysler and French automaker PSA Groupe. He also served on the board of Fiat Chrysler under late CEO Sergio Marchionne.
Kuniskis’ departure is the latest in a series of changes at the company since the automaker’s founding. Recent changes have included a reshuffle of Jeep’s top executives; North America boss Mark Stewart is leaving the company and becoming CEO of Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co.; and a restructuring of the company’s international operations late last year, such as in South America and Asia Pacific, including China.
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2024-05-17 16:57:09
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