Mopar Insiders Articles

Stellantis & Amazon Pull Plug on SmartCockpit Tech Deal High-Tech In-Car Dream Fades as SmartCockpit Partnership Quietly Unravels It looks like the once-promising tech partnership between Stellantis and Amazon is officially running out of gas. According to Reuters, the two companies have confirmed that their joint effort to bring Amazon-powered SmartCockpit software to future vehicles is “winding down.” https://moparinsiders.com/stellantis-amazon-pull-plug-on-smartcockpit-tech-deal/

Dodge Charger Daytona Heads to Europe for 2026 Sources Say Dodge Looks at the Charger Daytona to Expand Footprint in Europe... According to our sources, Dodge is set to expand the reach of its all-new, all-electric Dodge Charger Daytona into the European market in 2026. The iconic muscle car, known for its aggressive performance and bold design, will be available in two-door and four-door configurations, adding a new chapter to the brand’s history in Europe. The Charger Daytona is produced at the Windsor Assembly Plant in Ontario, Canada, and should hit European roads sometime in Q4 2025 / Q1 2026. https://moparinsiders.com/dodge-charger-daytona-heads-to-europe-for-2026-sources-say/

StarPlus Workers Win Union at Stellantis Battery Plant UAW Gains Majority Support at Kokomo Site Workers at the StarPlus Energy battery plant in Kokomo, Indiana — a joint venture between Stellantis and Samsung SDI — have officially joined the United Auto Workers (UAW) after a majority signed union authorization cards. Stellantis confirmed that the union has been recognized as the exclusive bargaining representative of the 420 employees at the site. https://moparinsiders.com/starplus-workers-win-union-at-stellantis-battery-plant/

AUCTION: 31K-Mile 1986 Dodge 600 ES Turbo Convertible Rare K-Car Drop-Top Sells at No Reserve Here’s one you don’t see every day—a low-mileage 1986 Dodge 600 ES Turbo Convertible up for grabs on BringATrailer.com, and it’s selling at no reserve. With only 30,538 original miles, this rare K-car drop-top is a time capsule from the peak of Chrysler’s turbocharged front-wheel-drive era. https://moparinsiders.com/auction-31k-mile-1986-dodge-600-es-turbo-convertible/

TRIS Ain’t a Tricycle—It’s FIAT’s New Workhorse Three Wheels, Full Charge, and Just Enough Attitude to Get the Job Done Well, this is unexpected. FIAT Professional—yes, that FIAT—is bringing the world a three-wheeled electric commercial vehicle called the TRIS. That’s right, three wheels. Not four. Not two. Just three. And it’s rolling into the Middle East and Africa to revolutionize last-mile delivery. https://moparinsiders.com/tris-aint-a-tricycle-its-fiats-new-workhorse/

Jeep’s ‘Groundhog Day’ Named Top American Ad of the Century Bill Murray’s Gladiator Super Bowl Spot Takes the Crown in Campaign US Bracket In a massive win for Jeep and classic movie lovers alike, the Jeep® brand’s unforgettable 2020 Super Bowl commercial “Groundhog Day” has just been named the “Best American Ad of the 21st Century” by Campaign US. https://moparinsiders.com/jeeps-groundhog-day-named-top-american-ad-of-the-century/

1968 B029 HEMI® Barracuda Prototype Heads to Mecum Indy 2025 The Car That Launched Super Stock History is Hitting the Auction Block One of the most significant Mopars in drag racing history is finally crossing the auction block — and it’s not just any old HEMI® car. On Saturday, May 17th, 2025, at Mecum Indy, the legendary 1968 Plymouth Barracuda B029 Prototype — known as “The Mule” — will go under the hammer. This isn’t just a Super Stocker. It’s the Super Stocker — the very prototype Chrysler Engineering used to develop the 1968 HEMI Super Stock Barracuda program. https://moparinsiders.com/1968-b029-hemi-barracuda-prototype-heads-to-mecum-indy-2025/

Stellantis Secures Patent for Innovative Deployable Cart System New Load Floor Organizer Transforms Trunk or Bed into a Rolling Utility Cart While browsing the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) website, I came across something that immediately caught my attention—Stellantis (FCA US, LLC) has been granted a fresh new patent for a deployable cart and organizer designed to slide right out of the load floor of a vehicle. https://moparinsiders.com/stellantis-secures-patent-for-innovative-deployable-cart-system/

Stunning 1954 Chrysler New Yorker Deluxe For Sale Blue-Collar Luxury Meets First Gen HEMI® Power If you’re like me and get goosebumps from the thunk of a real metal door closing, the smell of 1950s broadcloth upholstery, and the sound of a carbureted V8 firing up under a heavy steel hood—then let me introduce you to something real special: a 1954 Chrysler New Yorker Deluxe, now up for grabs at LaFontaine Classic Cars in Milford, Michigan. https://moparinsiders.com/stunning-1954-chrysler-new-yorker-deluxe-for-sale/

AMW4x4’s 2025 Jeep® Gladiator AMW 717 Adventure Series Is Ready To Rock HELLCAT-Powered Jeep Pickup Looks Great In Fathom Blue... If you’re a fan of over-the-top power and extreme off-road capability, then America’s Most Wanted 4×4 (AMW4x4) just built your dream machine. Currently available for $156,190, this Fathom Blue-colored 2025 Jeep® Gladiator Rubicon has been transformed into an absolute monster thanks to AMW4x4’s AMW 717 Adventure Series package. https://moparinsiders.com/amw4x4s-2025-jeep-gladiator-amw-717-adventure-series-is-ready-to-rock/

Toyota Eyes Compact Truck Segment as Ram’s Rampage Waits in the Wings Could Toyota Beat Ram to America’s Maverick-Hungry Market? The compact pickup truck segment in the U.S. is heating up—and fast. With Ford’s Mavericksetting the benchmark at over 131,000 units sold in 2024 alone, other automakers are looking to carve out their piece of the pie. Among them is Toyota, a household name in trucks but currently without a true compact offering for North America. Meanwhile, Ram already has a solid contender on the ground in Brazil with the Rampage—but so far, it’s stayed south of the border. https://moparinsiders.com/toyota-eyes-compact-truck-segment-as-rams-rampage-waits-in-the-wings/

FIAT Teases Bold New Grande Panda 4×4 Concept Off-Road-Ready Concept Hints at Rugged Expansion of the Grande Panda Lineup During the European media launch for its new Grande Panda Hybrid, FIAT surprised the crowd with a striking new concept—the Grande Panda 4×4. Reviving the legendary nameplate from the 1980s, this new four-wheel-drive concept signals FIAT’s serious interest in adding a more rugged, all-terrain vehicle to the Grande Panda lineup. https://moparinsiders.com/fiat-teases-bold-new-grande-panda-4x4-concept/

Jeep® Gladiator Dark Sky Debuts With Bold Style and Value Exclusive New Trim Blends Rugged Looks, Premium Features, and Capability. If you’ve been looking for a rugged midsize pickup that stands out without breaking the bank, Jeep® just dropped something worth checking out—the all-new 2025 Gladiator Dark Sky Edition. This fresh addition to the Gladiator lineup brings together tough looks, solid value, and plenty of built-in capability for those who want a truck that can pull double duty on- and off-road. https://moparinsiders.com/jeep-gladiator-dark-sky-debuts-with-bold-style-and-value/

Old-School RV Life: 1977 Dodge B300 Xplorer 224 Up for Auction Classic Mopar Van Turned Camper With Vintage Style and Modern Updates If you’re into old-school vans, road trips, or just want something totally different for your next camping adventure, you’ll want to check out this 1977 Dodge Tradesman B300 Xplorer 224 Motorhome currently live on BringATrailer.com. It’s a full-size Class B motorhome built by Frank Industries out of Brown City, Michigan, and it’s loaded with period charm, Mopar muscle, and modern updates where it counts. Bidding ends Wednesday, May 28 at 1:38 p.m. EDT. https://moparinsiders.com/old-school-rv-life-1977-dodge-b300-xplorer-224-up-for-auction/

2026 Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack Sedan Breaks Cover Days After We Showcased the New Four-Door, Dodge Officially Pulls Back the Covers Just days after we got a close-up look at the new four-door 2026 Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack at Stellantis Design Cars + Coffee, Dodge has officially ripped the cover off its latest electric muscle machine — and it’s exactly what we hoped it would be. https://moparinsiders.com/2026-dodge-charger-daytona-scat-pack-sedan-breaks-cover/

MoparTechJordan Troubleshoots A YouTuber’s Charger Daytona’s Issues @MoparTechJordan Diagnoses YouTuber @HellcatHoney1's Charger Daytona Scat Pack In his latest video, certified Mopar technician Jordan Rose (@mopartechjordan) dives under the hood of fellow YouTuber @HellcatHoney1’s personal 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack Stage 2. Despite having Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 08-026-25 already performed, her car was still throwing the dreaded “red wrench” warning and occasionally going into reduced functionality mode—a frustrating issue on an otherwise cutting-edge muscle EV. https://moparinsiders.com/mopartechjordan-troubleshoots-a-youtubers-charger-daytonas-issues/

HEMI and Ramcharger Pilot Builds Underway at SHAP Ram Quietly Starts Building 2026 HEMI and Ramcharger Test Trucks Things are heating up at the Sterling Heights Assembly Plant (SHAP) as Ram quietly begins pilot production of two major 2026 Ram 1500 models—the return of the 5.7-liter HEMI® V8 and the debut of the all-new Ramcharger electrified truck. https://moparinsiders.com/hemi-and-ramcharger-pilot-builds-underway-at-shap/

Mopar Picks Van Buren Township for New Detroit Mega Hub $388M Investment Will Modernize Parts Distribution and Support Nearly 500 UAW Jobs Mopar is planting big roots in Van Buren Township, Michigan. Stellantis has officially announced plans to build its brand-new Metro Detroit Mega Hub right in the heart of Metro Detroit, with a hefty $388 million investment behind it. The facility, scheduled to open in 2027, will play a major role in modernizing Mopar’s parts distribution across the United States. https://moparinsiders.com/mopar-picks-van-buren-township-for-new-detroit-mega-hub/

Stellantis Wins in Court but Still Losing Supplier Trust Automaker Ranks Dead Last in Supplier Relations Study It’s not unusual for a major automaker to face legal battles, but what’s raising eyebrows across the auto industry is how public and persistent Stellantis’ issues with its suppliers have become. Earlier this month, attorneys representing Stellantis appeared before the Michigan Court of Appeals in Detroit, where they secured a legal win in a contract dispute with automotive fastener supplier Kamax. The court sided with Stellantis, reaffirming that its purchase orders are enforceable under Michigan law—a decision that follows a similar ruling from the Oakland County Circuit Court...

FIRST LOOK: 2025 Jeep® J6 Honcho Concept A Retro-Inspired Two-Door Pickup That Had Everyone at Cars + Coffee Saying, “Build It!” This past weekend, I made the trip out to the Stellantis Design Cars + Coffee event at the Chrysler Technical Center (CTC) in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Amid all the eye candy on display—from vintage muscle to electrified prototypes—there was one truck that really stopped people in their tracks: the 2025 Jeep® J6 Honcho Concept. https://moparinsiders.com/first-look-2025-jeep-j6-honcho-concept/