Stellantis NV's Dodge brand plans to end production of its Challenger and Charger muscle cars by the end of 2023, the company reported.
Dodge plans to offer seven low-volume "heritage-influenced" versions of the Charger and Challenger at certain dealerships before production ends. The automaker will offer the final run of Dodge muscle cars to dealers all at once and customers can see which dealers will receive the car they want, said brand chief Tim Kuniskis.
The final runs will be throwbacks to the muscle cars of the 1960s and 1970s with retro-styling an six- and eight-cylinder engines.
The EPA ranked Stellantis ranked dead last among major U.S. automakers in corporate average fuel economy in 2021. U.S. regulators announces this year that they will increase penalties for failing to hit CO2 emissions targets, which could cost Stellantis as much as $572 million.
Dodge brand executives hedging their bets that consumers will see the final run as collectible vehicles worth paying a premium to own.
Stellantis plans to retool the Brampton, Ont. factory that builds the Charger and Challenger to make electric vehicles. The move is part of a broader $2.8 billion investment that will include converting an assembly plant in Windsor, Ont. to build a new "multi-energy vehicle" architecture.
