Dodge and Ram boss Tim Kuniskis to retire from Stellantis

DETROIT – stellantisDodge and Ram brands CEO Tim Kuniskis will retire after a nearly 32-year career with the automaker and its predecessors, the company announced Friday.

Kuniskis, who has led several of the automaker's brands in North America, is best known for leading Dodge for most of the last decade. He is considered the “father” of Dodge's high-performance Hellcat models and “the unofficial spokesperson” for American muscle cars.

During his tenure, Dodge reestablished itself as a quintessential sports car brand in America. The brand did so with vehicles like the 700-plus horsepower Challenger and Charger Hellcat models and the controversial Challenger Demon endurance racing cars.

Kuniskis will be replaced by Chrysler brand CEO Christine Feuell, who will lead Ram in addition to Chrysler, and Matt McAlear, who will be promoted from Dodge's sales leader to brand CEO and member of Stellantis' senior executive team. The appointments will be effective June 1, the company said.

The changes come as Stellantis carries out a restructuring that includes layoffs and cost cuts. It has struggled with sales in the United States, which declined 1.2% last year in a market that grew 12.3%. The company was the only major automaker to report an annual decline, according to data from Motor Intelligence.

“I want to take the opportunity to warmly thank Tim for his passion, commitment and contributions to Stellantis and for defining the vision for the future electrified Ram and Dodge brands. I wish him the best in his retirement,” said Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares, in a release. “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 build on the heritage of our iconic Dodge brand and lead the brand's transition to a sustainable future.”

While the company did not invest in completely 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 sparked interest by increasing the performance of the V-8 engine or announcing “hot” new models.

Kuniskis has been a member of Stellantis' senior executive team since the company was established through the merger of Fiat Chrysler and French automaker PSA Groupe in January 2021. He also served on Fiat Chrysler's senior board of directors, under of the late executive director Sergio Marchionne.

Kuniskis' departure is the latest in a series of changes at the company since the automaker was founded. Recent changes include a reorganization of Jeep's top executives; North America Head Mark Stewart Leaves to Become CEO of Goodyear Tires and Rubber Co.; and a restructuring late last year of the company's international operations, such as the South America and Asia-Pacific regions, including China.