Why Did Dodge Discontinue the Charger and Challenger?
Stellantis, the parent company of Dodge, has decided to stop the production of gasoline-powered Charger and Challenger models. The reason is that Stellantis is feeling enormous political pressure to build electric vehicles even though the electric market has been softening and the sales growth of EVs has been declining. Many muscle car fans are mourning the loss of these legendary gas-powered vehicles that achieved significant popularity because of their confident style and incredible performance. At Oviedo Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Fiat in La Grange, TX, we expect that the Dodge Charger and Challenger are likely to reappear later in a more electrified form.
What Are the Reasons for Discontinuing the Dodge Challenger and Charger?
Stellantis makes a profit on electric vehicles in Europe but American manufacturers have not yet figured out how to do that, with one car maker losing over $100,000 on every EV it sells. Stellantis CEO Carlos Talvares has vowed he will not lose money on electric vehicles so the prices of future Challenger and Charger models could be quite a bit higher in order to achieve profitability. Meanwhile, we do have new gas-powered Dodge Durango SUVs at affordable prices so Schulenburg and Columbus buyers can get Dodge performance in a familiar format that's more convenient than an EV. We also have a few Dodge Hornet plug-in hybrids that do require charging but aren't as inconvenient to use as many EVs.Â
What are the challenges of selling electric vehicles?
Stelantis is making a major investment in manufacturing plants located in America and in Canada for electric engines and batteries. In fact, the parent company is spending $99 million in North America to build electric vehicles. According to CNBC, the CEO of Stellantis has been skeptical about consumer adoption of EVs and his skepticism has been proven accurate. Many people are concerned about the short driving range and long charging times required for electric vehicles, as well as the lack of charging stations. That's why EV sales have slowed down so dramatically as car makers pull back on EV plans. These are significant roadblocks that Stellantis hopes to overcome in the future.
Are there any advantages to electric vehicles?
People who advocate for electric vehicles claim they have several advantages over gas-powered cars. One potential advantage is that EVs may eventually become more affordable although their prices are much higher than comparable gas-powered models right now. With rising fuel costs, driving an electric vehicle might save you money on fuel although it can take quite a while to recover the higher initial cost of an EV. That's why we offer so many proven gas-powered Dodge, Jeep and Ram models for our valued customers in Flatonia and Weimar.
How does horsepower and torque compare with gas-powered models?
Some vehicles that are built with either a gasoline powered engine or an electric powertrain give you more horsepower and torque in the electric models. The hope is that the new electric Charger and Challenger models will provide a greater output from both. Of course, the Dodge Charger had amazing performance with an engine that could achieve up to 797 horsepower and the Challenger was even more incredible with an engine that could give you up to 803 horsepower. Both these classic gas-powered muscle cars live on in the hearts and minds of performance lovers so it remains to be seen whether electric vehicles will match their gasoline-powered counterparts.
When will the Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger return?
Stellantis has not announced any definite plans about the future of the Dodge Challenger and Charger lineup but there have been some potential signs of future developments. Not long ago, Dodge posted a social media photo of what the upcoming Charger and Challenger models might look like. The photo showed that Dodge will continue to deliver similar muscle car styling with a wide body, dynamic body lines and sleek styling. The photo indicated that the hood scoop has been removed and the front end has a new design with a thin strip of LED lights that stretch across the front of the vehicle. In addition, Dodge has previewed the Daytona SRT concept vehicle with standard all-wheel drive and an electric powertrain with significant horsepower and torque.
Find out more about future Dodge vehicles and shop our current selection
There are a number of valid concerns our Smithville customers have about electric vehicles including the fact that driving range is a lot less than a gasoline-powered model and EVs take many hours to charge, with charging stations still hard to find. It remains to be seen whether Stellantis can bring down the high price of electric vehicles in the future. Meanwhile, we're offering proven gas-powered Dodge Durango models so you can still get affordable Dodge performance right now at Oviedo Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Fiat in La Grange, TX.
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Oviedo Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram FIAT
1980 W. State Highway 71 Bypass
La Grange, TX 78945-5042
- Sales: (979) 242-5981
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