Tim Kuniskis Returns to Stellantis as Ram Brand CEO

Tim Kuniskis Returns to Stellantis as Ram Brand CEO​

Stellantis Taps Kuniskis to Strengthen Ram amid North American Challenges...​

Tim Kuniskis is returning to lead the Ram Truck brand, effective immediately. Stellantis confirmed the leadership shift as part of a broader restructuring aimed at revitalizing its North American operations following the unexpected resignation of CEO Carlos Tavares last week.

Tim Kuniskis Returns to Stellantis as Ram Brand CEO

Tim Kuniskis is returning to lead the Ram Truck brand, effective immediately. Stellantis confirmed the leadership shift as part of a broader restructuring aimed at revitalizing its North American operations following the unexpected resignation of CEO Carlos Tavares last week.

moparinsiders.com

 

[scatpack_69]

I saw this coming once CT was fired, I hope he gets all of North America brands at some point. Maybe he will end up with Dodge and he can fold Ram back into it and get out of the horrible sales decline its suffering as a stand alone brand.

Good news

Nope. It’s a proven FACT that Ram and Dodge being separated helped both. Irrefutable even. Time to move on, living still in 2010 doesn’t benefit you.

 

[scatpack_69]

So y'all don't think that Tim isn't even a bit to blame for the current situation? None... I know the buck stop at Pepe LeCheapskate but is sure as hell went through TK on the way the him.

Both of them inherited the fiscal freeze and platform consolidation, but for sure TK was closer that Pepe.

So y'all don't think that Tim isn't even a bit to blame for the current situation? None... I know the buck stop at Pepe LeCheapskate but is sure as hell went through TK on the way the him.

Both of them inherited the fiscal freeze and platform consolidation, but for sure TK was closer that Pepe.

And what situation is that? Being forced to can Hemi by his French overlords? Being forced to ditch combustion for an EV that no one asked for? All of which hurt sales. Nope, that’s not on Tim’s hands.

The sales decline that started in ‘22? Still not Tim’s doing.

Maybe if you could actually type coherently and spent more time thinking than coming up with some lame ass “Pepe Le….” you would have an argument. As such, you fail. Again.

 

[Bili]

This might be a "right now" move to be honest. There is no way they're going to just leave him with Ram when there is so much to be done. From the perspective out here, and I agree, yes I would have said put TK as CEO of Stellantis and let's get our brand back in order, but there may be a reason as to why they're doing what they're doing. Something else may be in the works and for TK to make his return to the company means that there is definitely going to be some changes going on, whether he has direct or indirect input in them, TK being back in the mix is definitely a good thing. It may be one step closer to the Mopar brands returning to being American owned and operated

FCA was operated by North American.

 

[redriderbob]

 

[Mopar392]

Chris Fuel needs to leave Chrysler as well. She had only 2 products when she came and only 1 now. She only since her arrival kept showing vaporware with nothing coming into reality.
She’s relying on a strategy that shown to be flawed and apparently she has no backup plan.

 

[TripleT]

Chris Fuel needs to leave Chrysler as well. She had only 2 products when she came and only 1 now. She only since her arrival kept showing vaporware with nothing coming into reality.
She’s relying on a strategy that shown to be flawed and apparently she has no backup plan.

If RAM and Jeep were healthy then Chrysler would have more product. And Excuse me many times I get accused of supporting when I am explaining.

With Chrysler track record recently, which is not fault of Chris (and not well understood here with people's passionate love of Chrysler in a way that well off the reality in the general public) it is HARD as $#%^ to get your 1. Product development approved, 2. Implementation Approved 3. to get priority over Jeep, Dodge, and Ram.

It is not Vaporware it is the standard development funnel and Chryslers projects keep falling out. That process is so integrated in Automotive that it is QS required for certification.

Here is example if your above Chris and Tim... They both come to you with their Resource request and it between the Dakota and the Airflow, which one do you approve? Honestly... and it not that your kill Chrysler product it's that it pushed off. Just Chris New STLA Large Minivan with an EV option (so you can sell anything in a Carb state) or Airflow? See not Vaporware.... how the process works they keep try to get something to the implementation Gate.

The use of VAPORWARE is one of the biggest tells that someone doesn't understand the process. Each Gate has to have Executive approval. Of the CDJR executive the C is hardest one to justify resources for especially after the 200, and over investment in capacity for the Minivan... Not to mention 300 towards the end sold a paltry 2 units per dealership per month. Not a lot to build on there.

 

[bill burke]

Jeep and Ram are the bread and butter so it is pertinent to get your two cash cows up and running and back to winning, then worry about the Dodge and Chrysler side, Chrysler has some issues that needs to be addressed, I do not think it is Chris Feuell fault either she walked in on a sunken ship with Chrysler and was told sink or swim by Tavares. I have a feeling we are going to see the NA market have its own reign here shortly with Stellantis just being the parent company. Kind of like what Geely does with Volvo and Lotus give them a good budget and free reign just as long as the meet sales targets set yearly, which I don't see a problem for Ram or Jeep, Tim is the right man and glad to see he is back !!

I think all of us linked together here are struggling with the leadership issues of a Stellantis, that if it is to prosper, MUST acknowledge the significant differences, respectfully, between the North American market and the European market. Daimler, Fiat and now Stellantis have not been able to make that respectful understanding or the adjustments necessary to succeed with any type of merger. Your comment mirrors my and others on this thread who realize the North American operations need to be far more autonomous and led by an experienced and loyal to Mopar American executive. Seems we all see Tim, clearly, as the top dude for North America. It’s not just V-8s and Trail Rated, it’s a cultural breeding that defies definition but if you drive a Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep or Ram, remember DeSoto, Plymouth and Imperial with reverend fondness or know what a Super Bee or Le Baron is, you got it in your DNA. Carlos was clueless and repulsive in his arrogance like too many in the last 20 years. Time for Tim.

 

[crouchta]

TK was clearly in charge of Dodge when the electric Charger decisions were made, but we are also pretty comfortable the CT was a "heavy hand". I think TK went as far as he could to save performance and the Dodge culture as he could, given the tools he had to work with. It's hard to make a Meng vase out of a plastic cup.

 

[TripleT]

TK was clearly in charge of Dodge when the electric Charger decisions were made, but we are also pretty comfortable the CT was a "heavy hand". I think TK went as far as he could to save performance and the Dodge culture as he could, given the tools he had to work with. It's hard to make a Meng vase out of a plastic cup.

Look quite blaming the EV....... The EV is a must to do business with half the USA population... PEOPLE CONTINUE to be in denial about this. Ask the RV industry that has no practical EV but still as 25' can't do business with half the population. There was a problem of not bringing the ICE version on equal terms, whether this in on Pepe or TK. FOR SURE they if anything overestimated the value of the V8 cars because they are collecting dust. And it was fatal error not to have the new model launched prior to end of Brampton production. SM never made this error.

For all I know TK saw his end date on his Retention Contract and was "FINE whatever". Windsor had room to get the STLA Line up and running while Brampton was producing. The Wagoneer S is ahead of the Charger WTH, Jeep has product. And you could have sold the EV alongside the LXs or a few months apart. And had the ICE model launch as Inventory dwindled.

Reality is the company doesn't live of die by Dodge Sales... The market shift downward as belts tighten do to inflation and interest rate hit STLA NA right where it hurts, and product mix not to address this within the available models is the Key error not the few Charger sales.

 

[Mopar392]

If RAM and Jeep were healthy then Chrysler would have more product. And Excuse me many times I get accused of supporting when I am explaining.

With Chrysler track record recently, which is not fault of Chris (and not well understood here with people's passionate love of Chrysler in a way that well off the reality in the general public) it is HARD as $#%^ to get your 1. Product development approved, 2. Implementation Approved 3. to get priority over Jeep, Dodge, and Ram.

It is not Vaporware it is the standard development funnel and Chryslers projects keep falling out. That process is so integrated in Automotive that it is QS required for certification.

Here is example if your above Chris and Tim... They both come to you with their Resource request and it between the Dakota and the Airflow, which one do you approve? Honestly... and it not that your kill Chrysler product it's that it pushed off. Just Chris New STLA Large Minivan with an EV option (so you can sell anything in a Carb state) or Airflow? See not Vaporware.... how the process works they keep try to get something to the implementation Gate.

The use of VAPORWARE is one of the biggest tells that someone doesn't understand the process. Each Gate has to have Executive approval. Of the CDJR executive the C is hardest one to justify resources for especially after the 200, and over investment in capacity for the Minivan... Not to mention 300 towards the end sold a paltry 2 units per dealership per month. Not a lot to build on there.

View attachment 10520

I’ll work with your examples of Jeep and Dodge.
She could have pitched a platform sharing with either Charger, Hornet, Avenger or Wagoner S. Those examples that came to my mind.
But we keep only seeing EV minivans and both, EV or Minivans, are either saw a market switch, I.e. minivans, or didn’t perform as some hoped I.e. EVs.
Yes, there’s product prioritization but if we are talking about reducing the RnD, then she had options.
Since the 90’s, Chrysler always shared platforms. New Yorker, Aspen, 300 and even 200 which somehow shared the platform with Dart.
So, yes as a CEO her job is to be able to come up with products and push them through the funnel.
If she is the only CEO who can’t come up with new product, then she either needs to be replaced. Or just make Chrysler the Americanized Lancia.

 

[TripleT]

I’ll work with your examples of Jeep and Dodge.
She could have pitched a platform sharing with either Charger, Hornet, Avenger or Wagoner S. Those examples that came to my mind.
But we keep only seeing EV minivans and both, EV or Minivans, are either saw a market switch, I.e. minivans, or didn’t perform as some hoped I.e. EVs.
Yes, there’s product prioritization but if we are talking about reducing the RnD, then she had options.
Since the 90’s, Chrysler always shared platforms. New Yorker, Aspen, 300 and even 200 which somehow shared the platform with Dart.
So, yes as a CEO her job is to be able to come up with products and push them through the funnel.
If she is the only CEO who can’t come up with new product, then she either needs to be replaced. Or just make Chrysler the Americanized Lancia.

Everything presented shares the common corporate Architecture. So EXACTLY what you proposed.

Let look at your examples New Yorker no longer meets market expectation, Aspen failure, 300 retro model with initial success but killed by the movement from traditional luxury, 200 entered a zero margin category.

Lancia has been a single product brand for nearly a decade and it as a A sized vehicle, the new Lancia is PSA car not certified for the USA.

She has a brand has a poor track record, its a tough sell. Frankly other than brand security even as a fan, I would be reluctant to fund anything other than the minivan.

So what is on tap is STLA Minivan easy sell, A STLA large CUVish Sedan, and STLA Mid People mover. Hope she gets the funds.

 

[crouchta]

Look quite blaming the EV....... The EV is a must to do business with half the USA population... PEOPLE CONTINUE to be in denial about this. Ask the RV industry that has no practical EV but still as 25' can't do business with half the population. There was a problem of not bringing the ICE version on equal terms, whether this in on Pepe or TK. FOR SURE they if anything overestimated the value of the V8 cars because they are collecting dust. And it was fatal error not to have the new model launched prior to end of Brampton production. SM never made this error.

For all I know TK saw his end date on his Retention Contract and was "FINE whatever". Windsor had room to get the STLA Line up and running while Brampton was producing. The Wagoneer S is ahead of the Charger WTH, Jeep has product. And you could have sold the EV alongside the LXs or a few months apart. And had the ICE model launch as Inventory dwindled.

Reality is the company doesn't live of die by Dodge Sales... The market shift downward as belts tighten do to inflation and interest rate hit STLA NA right where it hurts, and product mix not to address this within the available models is the Key error not the few Charger sales.

I'm certainly not saving the Charger EV doesn't have a place, I think having all options is the right path, assuming you can afford to develop them all. All I'm saying is Tim may have some responsibility in the situation, but I think the lion's share has to go to the boss at the top.

Saying Tim has no responsibility is missing a basic fact. Saying he ran Dodge with a free hand seems to be missing something as well.

I actually agree with you, but I'm giving him some space to see what he does without CT in the room.

 

[TripleT]

I'm certainly not saving the Charger EV doesn't have a place, I think having all options is the right path, assuming you can afford to develop them all. All I'm saying is Tim may have some responsibility in the situation, but I think the lion's share has to go to the boss at the top.

Saying Tim has no responsibility is missing a basic fact. Saying he ran Dodge with a free hand seems to be missing something as well.

I actually agree with you, but I'm giving him some space to see what he does without CT in the room.

Again..... Unless you abandon half the USA consumer in 2 of the richest states EV is not optional it is a requirement for OEMs not 10 years away, 30% fleet requirement is in 3 weeks.

Here is my best guess and it give Tim plenty of benefit of the doubt. He saw the end of Retention Contract on the horizon, and it just wasn't worth the fight. Most of wounds were self-inflicted with delays in fund authorization and the final capacity plans delayed by the merger and union negotiations. Take your retention bonus retire until the non-compete was inactive.

Anyone paying attention will note those are pretty unenforceable anymore but taking funds makes in more so.

 

[Mopar392]

Again..... Unless you abandon half the USA consumer in 2 of the richest states EV is not optional it is a requirement for OEMs not 10 years away, 30% fleet requirement is in 3 weeks.

Here is my best guess and it give Tim plenty of benefit of the doubt. He saw the end of Retention Contract on the horizon, and it just wasn't worth the fight. Most of wounds were self-inflicted with delays in fund authorization and the final capacity plans delayed by the merger and union negotiations. Take your retention bonus retire until the non-compete was inactive.

Anyone paying attention will note those are pretty unenforceable anymore but taking funds makes in more so.

And you can’t abandon the other half of the consumers and the other 48 states for 2 liberal states.
What happened when these 2 states and %50 of the consumers who wanted and already got their EV?
Sales slumped hard and automakers started running with their tails between their legs.

The better plan was supposed to be ICE, Hybrid (whichever type) and then EV.

Consumers acceptance of the Hybrids was and is much better than the BEVs.

 

[crouchta]

Yes, EV is mandatory, I've never disputed that. The platforms are multi-powered capable, so do all - if you can afford it. Given the plate of food he had, Tim chose to eat the green vegetables first. We don't know who pulled the plug on the previous platform too early. I'm certainly not in the decision line and I don't see where the plays are called. But I put the decisions on CT in my mind, with Tim told to "run the plays I call".

I'll quit writing now, I'm obviously not expressing myself very clearly.

 

[TripleT]

Yes, EV is mandatory, I've never disputed that. The platforms are multi-powered capable, so do all - if you can afford it. Given the plate of food he had, Tim chose to eat the green vegetables first. We don't know who pulled the plug on the previous platform too early. I'm certainly not in the decision line and I don't see where the plays are called. But I put the decisions on CT in my mind, with Tim told to "run the plays I call".

I'll quit writing now, I'm obviously not expressing myself very clearly.

Its not clear to me that Dodge will meet it 30% goal next year without a good deal of effort. Only electrified vehicle is the Hornet RT that no one knows is, RAM has nothing, I too lazy to read up on the rules to see how much the 4xE count. So if anything, it is scramble there.

They supply of Hemi was running out and Brampton needed to be converted but it way less involved since they aren't widening it.

They could have run the F out of fleet V6s and had a fire sale to drive cash flow.

I think Pepe thought there was some way to magically catch up on the implementation while at the same time reducing resources BRILLANT

 

[TripleT]

And you can’t abandon the other half of the consumers and the other 48 states for 2 liberal states.
What happened when these 2 states and %50 of the consumers who wanted and already got their EV?
Sales slumped hard and automakers started running with their tails between their legs.

The better plan was supposed to be ICE, Hybrid (whichever type) and then EV.

Consumers acceptance of the Hybrids was and is much better than the BEVs.

First it is 18 states, and 9 are implementing in 25' the 30% fleet requirements.

Laying the slump on powertrain is bad logic as None have been implemented except in the RAM but to rave reviews.

While your assertions around consumer preference are absolutely correct, it doesn't matter a d@mn bit to regulators, they are perfectly fine pushing people to mass transit.

And seem your missing the HOOK of this without 30% compliance NO vehicles can be sold or registered. NONE. STLA is way behind on having anything to meet these fleet goals.

 

[TripleT]

Great discussion folks.... no flaming NOICE

 

[BWS1]

If RAM and Jeep were healthy then Chrysler would have more product. And Excuse me many times I get accused of supporting when I am explaining.

With Chrysler track record recently, which is not fault of Chris (and not well understood here with people's passionate love of Chrysler in a way that well off the reality in the general public) it is HARD as $#%^ to get your 1. Product development approved, 2. Implementation Approved 3. to get priority over Jeep, Dodge, and Ram.

It is not Vaporware it is the standard development funnel and Chryslers projects keep falling out. That process is so integrated in Automotive that it is QS required for certification.

Here is example if your above Chris and Tim... They both come to you with their Resource request and it between the Dakota and the Airflow, which one do you approve? Honestly... and it not that your kill Chrysler product it's that it pushed off. Just Chris New STLA Large Minivan with an EV option (so you can sell anything in a Carb state) or Airflow? See not Vaporware.... how the process works they keep try to get something to the implementation Gate.

The use of VAPORWARE is one of the biggest tells that someone doesn't understand the process. Each Gate has to have Executive approval. Of the CDJR executive the C is hardest one to justify resources for especially after the 200, and over investment in capacity for the Minivan... Not to mention 300 towards the end sold a paltry 2 units per dealership per month. Not a lot to build on there.

View attachment 10520

You’re exactly right here, and why I have expressed the opinion for some time now that a Chrysler is gone. It will not be back. And Dodge is maybe 4 years behind it. Jeep and Ram is what will remain, if we’re lucky .

 

[Jeeper1961]

Exclusive — Moreno Plans to ‘Repatriate’ Chrysler to American Owners

Bernie Moreno plans to launch a major push in the U.S. Senate to force the foreign company Stellantis to “repatriate” Chrysler.

www.breitbart.com

I'm not sure how this would be possible but it is interesting to see there are some that want the same things that we do.