“End of an era” for Dodge Charger and Challenger

Dodge’s most iconic muscle cars

The Charger and the Challenger, two of Dodge’s most iconic muscle cars, will be discontinued. “End of an era”: The automotive manufacturer that was instrumental in the development of a previous age of automobiles characterized by muscular design and powerful engines is transitioning to producing vehicles that run on cleaner fuel.

In the year 2020, a Dodge dealership in Littleton, Colorado, has a Charger in its showroom. As part of its shift to cleaner-running cars, Dodge will terminate production of the gasoline-powered Charger and Challenger models at the end of the 2023 model year.

Reason for discontinuity

As the automotive industry moves toward the production of more fuel-efficient hybrid and electric cars, Dodge has decided to terminate production of its gas-powered Charger and Challenger models in 2019, signaling the end of an era for a brand that helped define the muscle car.

Stellantis, the automotive conglomerate that owns Dodge, made the announcement on Monday that it will begin the process of transitioning the vehicles out of its product lineup in 2023 through a one-time sale of seven “heritage” models. Each of these models will have the words “last call” engraved on a plaque that is located underneath the hood of the vehicle.

Tim Kuniskis, the chief executive officer of Dodge

Tim Kuniskis, the chief executive officer of Dodge, was quoted as saying in the company’s statement that “we are celebrating the end of an era” and “the start of a bright new electrified future” while remaining faithful to the brand.

The Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, Pontiac GTO, and other automobiles of the same ilk helped to popularize a whole generation of vehicles with powerful engines and macho designs more than fifty years ago. The Charger and the Challenger are two examples of this generation. Even though many vehicle customers moved toward more fuel-efficient sedans, SUVs, and hatchbacks in the 2000s, the nostalgic vibe and strong performance of these cars won over the hearts of auto aficionados. They were reintroduced in the 2000s. According to MotorTrend magazine, a classic 1969 Dodge Charger was sold at auction for a record-breaking price of $1.32 million, while prices for newer versions begin close to $30,000 and may go as high as $200,000.

However, more stringent pollution rules have required Dodge to rethink its range and acquire carbon credits from other automakers that produce cleaner vehicles. According to CNBC, Stellantis, formerly known as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, said in an earnings call held in March 2021 that it had paid a total of $362 million on such credits in 2020, the majority of which came from the electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla.

2023 final year editions

According to the statement made by the firm, the 2023 final year editions would be sent to dealerships “all at once.” This is a change from the company’s typical practice of stagger-releasing sales during the course of the year. The seven “heritage-influenced” 2023 vehicles will have some relationship to older models; the specifics of this connection will be made public later on in this year.

The seventh and last model, which Dodge characterizes as “the absolute last of its type,” will be shown out for the first time at the 2022 Specialty Equipment Market Association exhibition in Las Vegas at the beginning of November. The statement did not specify whether it will be a Charger, a Challenger, or another model altogether.

The declaration made on Monday did not include specific information about the company’s intentions for muscle cars beyond the year 2024, but it did leave the door open for either brand to make a comeback.

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