Rhodes Jr. Talks Chrysler & Dodge After Stellantis Statement

In an unexpected turn of events, Frank B. Rhodes, Jr., great-grandson of Walter P. Chrysler, appeared on a late-night livestream with RacerX on Friday to discuss his proposal to acquire the Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth, and Mopar brands from Stellantis. This came just hours after Stellantis issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to its entire portfolio of brands and making it clear that it has no plans to sell any of its American brands.

Earlier in the week, Rhodes made headlines when he revealed his intention to place a bid for the iconic American brands. This move came on the heels of comments made by Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares, who had previously stated that the company would consider shutting down or selling off brands that were not profitable. “If they don’t make money, we’ll shut them down,” Tavares had said, emphasizing the importance of financial performance for each of Stellantis’ 14 brands.

However, Stellantis was quick to dismiss any notions of a sale, issuing a statement that read, “Stellantis acknowledges the interest in its North American brands and reaffirms the Company’s commitment to its entire portfolio of 14 powerful, iconic brands, which were each given a 10-year timeframe to build a profitable and sustainable business. Like the Jeep® and Ram brands, Chrysler and Dodge are at the forefront of Stellantis’ transformation to clean mobility, benefitting from the Group’s cutting-edge technology and scale. The Company is not pursuing splitting off any of its brands.”

Rhodes responded to the Stellantis statement with disappointment, particularly regarding the way the communication was handled. In a statement to the media, he said, “I was greatly disappointed to learn that Stellantis issued some kind of response to my proposal. Since I sent the proposal to Carlos Tavares and Christine Feuell, I expected the courtesy of their reply to come directly to me. Instead, I have learned about their comments from my media friends. I hope that in the future, we will have direct communications, or at least copied.”

During the hour-long livestream with RacerX, Rhodes elaborated on his vision for the Chrysler and Dodge brands. He expressed his unwavering commitment to preserving the legacy of the brands that his great-grandfather helped create nearly a century ago. Rhodes emphasized that he has not given up on his proposal and remains dedicated to ensuring the future success of these storied brands.

The livestream offered viewers a deeper insight into Rhodes’ passion for the American automotive industry and his determination to see Chrysler and Dodge thrive once again. While Stellantis has made it clear that it is not looking to sell any of its brands, Rhodes’ persistence in his mission to save these iconic American brands.