Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa is expected to reveal his plans for saving the automaker on Thursday, May 21st. As I reported late last month, Filosa is expected to announce that the automaker will focus its attention and investment on four key brands globally. Ram, Jeep, Fiat and Peugeot are expected to be the brand leaders, but Filosa is not expected to kill off any of the less profitable brands. The divisions like Chrysler and Dodge may benefit from technology and advancements created for the major brands but they will get less funding going forward.
In the meantime, Dodge is forging ahead with its emphasis on high-horsepower vehicles. Dodge, which has the powerful multi-energy Charger and HEMI-powered Durango, is once again sponsoring the Roadkill Nights drag-racing event along the famed Woodward Avenue northwest of Detroit.
Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge
The Roadkill Nights street legal drag-racing event is considered one of highlights of summer car events in the Motor City. It will take place at the M1 Concourse and Woodward Avenue on August 8, 2026. It precedes by a week the more famous Woodward Dream Cruise, which sees more than 40,000 classic cars and a million spectators line Woodward Avenue. Woodward is where automotive engineers back in the 1960’s used to bring out their newest and most powerful cars to test them. Engineers would lose their jobs if they were caught drag racing so they often allowed cruisers to test out the vehicles. The Dodge Chargers, Challengers, Chevrolet Camaros, Pontiac GTOs and Ford Mustangs that appeared on Woodward to race were legendary.
Every year, Dodge reignites the magic by offering Charger Thrill and Drift Rides, a Dodge Charger Grudge Race, celebrity appearances and a midway of sorts.
“What started as a pop-up drag race and car show in the old Pontiac Silverdome parking lot in 2015 has evolved into a must-attend car culture event of the summer, and in 2026 we’re redlining Roadkill Nights with more noise, more power and the most immersive fan moments we’ve ever delivered, with even more still to come,” said Matt McAlear, Dodge CEO. “For the 11th year, we’re taking street‑legal drag racing back to legendary Woodward Avenue, returning to M1 Concourse in Pontiac, and surrounding it all with full‑throttle Dodge experiences you have to see, hear and feel in person. This is an event you don’t want to miss.”
"Pontiac is a prime destination for signature events, and we're thrilled that we've been the host city for Roadkill Nights for over a decade now," said Pontiac Mayor Mike McGuinness. "We're looking forward to being that destination again on Woodward Avenue for this latest and greatest installment of Roadkill Nights action!”
Dodge’s muscle car lineup includes:
- The SIXPACK-powered standard-output (S.O.) 420-horsepower Dodge Charger R/T with standard all-wheel drive and the highest entry-level horsepower of any muscle car
- The 550-horsepower Dodge Charger Scat Pack, powered by the 3.0L Twin Turbo SIXPACK high-output (H.O.) engine — the most powerful Hurricane engine in production
- The world’s quickest and most powerful muscle car in the all-electric 670-horsepower Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack
The Dodge lineup is also fueled by the fastest American gas-powered SUV ever, the 710-horsepower Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, powered by the legendary supercharged HEMI V-8 engine, now available in all 50 states. The 360-horsepower 5.7-liter Durango GT HEMI AWD remains the most affordable AWD V-8 in the industry.
Stellantis Investor Day
Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa will present his new business plan in the Detroit area on May 21st. Thousands of jobs and hundred of dealerships hang in the balance. Stellantis was formed when Fiat Chrysler merged with the European PSA Group. Since then, Jeep and Ram have been the most successful of the four North American brands, with Chrysler and Dodge struggling because of lack of product. Profits from the Ram 1500 and the Jeep Wrangler have kept North American operations afloat. Poor Chrysler was down to just the Pacifica and Voyager minivans and Dodge had the Durango and more recently, the Hornet and the Dodge Charger multi-energy muscle car. Now, Stellantis has decided to focus most of its investment into four of its brands, Jeep, Ram, Peugeot and Fiat but isn’t killing off the others.
“Stellantis told Reuters that its brands were its strength and stressed its mix of “global scale with deep local roots,” without commenting directly on the planned reorganization.”
According to Reuters,
“Stellantis will channel the majority of its investment into four brands — Jeep, Ram, Peugeot and Fiat — while relegating the rest of its 14-brand portfolio to regional roles.”
Stellantis owns Ram, Jeep, Dodge and Chrysler brands that are well known in North America. The company’s other brands include Peugeot, Fiat, Citroen, Opel, Alfa Romeo, DS, Lancia, Maserati and Vauxhall. CEO Filosa was pressured by some investors to drop the less profitable names but he has decided to keep the name brands in the markets where they are well known. That is good news for Chrysler and Dodge. Both companies have existed in North America for over a hundred years. Stellantis has tried to sell Fiat and Alfa Romeo vehicles here, but sales have been tepid. Maserati does fairly well in America for an expensive, niche brand.
Sources told Reuters that “The lower volume brands, which have previously received a more even slice of the internal investment, will become regional or national ones in specific markets where they are already strong or have potential.”
CEO Filosa Brought In to Save Stellantis
Antonio Filosa was hired to try and get profits back on track. The previous CEO Carlos Tavares tried to generate profit by raising prices on popular vehicles like Jeeps and Ram trucks, but his plans failed miserably, costing the brands sales and market share. Company executives have apologized for the high prices and focused on building more value into recent products. As I have reported, some new 2026 Jeeps are twenty to thirty thousand dollars cheaper than similar 2025 models.
Filosa reportedly believes that the less successful brands still have potential in some regions or national markets. For example, Citroen and Peugeot are still popular in France. Different brands could rebadge similar vehicles in different markets. A Citroen vehicle could be rebadged as a Chrysler or Dodge for the American market. The Dodge Hornet is a slightly different version of the Alfa Romeo Tonale.
We will find out later this week exactly what Filosa has planned for the future of Ram, Jeep, Dodge and Chrysler. In the meantime, the divisions are continuing to forge ahead making the best of their situations.
Image by Dodge
About the Author
Mary Conway is a professional automotive journalist and has decades of experience specializing in automotive news analysis. She covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin. Follow Mary at @MaryConwayMedia on X and on Facebook, and send her car news tips for future stories. Mary Conway is an esteemed automotive and business reporter who was inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame in 2019. Mary is a member of the Automotive Press Association, Rocky Mountain Automotive Press, Society of Professional Journalists, and NATAS.
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