Stellantis has made a quiet move that could once again reshape the trajectory of its American performance brands. The automaker has announced Tim Kuniskis, a key figure in Dodge’s modern muscle car renaissance to lead a newly created role: Head of American brands and North American marketing and retail strategy.
Reporting to Antonio Filosa, who was recently named global CEO of Stellantis, Kuniskis, who after a hiatus took charge of RAM in December 2024, will retain his title as CEO of the Truck brand, but will now also work with Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge to tighten marketing and bolster dealer ties.
Under former CEO Carlos Tavars, Stellantis’ U.S. sales and stock prices fell sharply, with days’ supply ballooning to 122 for Dodge, 114 for Jeep, and 107 for RAM, well above the industry norm of 75. Dealers were pretty vocal about corporate leadership at the helm, with lots of unsold metal sitting on dealer lots.
“Tim has proven time and time again that he is masterful at building brands that reach the heart and soul of the customer.” – Anthony Filosa, CEO, Stellantis
But with new leadership comes hope. In Kuniskis, Dodge and Jeep fans see a champion who speaks their language. Timothy Kuniskis, who joined the Chrysler Corporation in 1992, has held a range of roles across multiple brands.
During his earlier tenure at Dodge, he built upon the strong positions that both the Charger and Challenger already enjoyed, with the likes of the Redeye, the Super Stock, and most crucially, the Demon. He also relaunched Direct Connection, giving DIY hot-rodders go-faster parts with a factory warranty.
The revival of the iconic Street & Racing Technology (SRT) is pretty symbolic and a great starting point. The renwed SRT Performance Division will oversee Direct Connection, North American motorsports initiatives under Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and RAM, including the participation in the NHRA and RAM’s recently announced plans to return to the NASCAR Trucks Series in 2026. From the drag strip to the trail, SRT will essentially lead the way, when it comes to performance vehicle development, pushing the boundries in perfromance, vehicle dynamics and technology.
“We’re getting the band back together. SRT is another box we needed to check as we head into a product launch cadence, enabling more performance than we’ve ever seen before. We’re working with our product development and technology organization to select the best engineers in powertrain and vehicle dynamics to build a team worthy of the SRT name.” – Tim Kuniskis
While it should please the Mopar fans, there’s still a lot more to do. The new role gives him the authority to cut back on bloated inventories, right-size incentives, and refocus his efforts on each brand’s core values. For Chrysler, that could mean, finally, accelerating its long-promised EV portfolio, for the Jeep brand, more streamlined trim hierarchies, and for Dodge, we already know about the incoming gas-powered Daytona Six-pack, but a HEMI would truly win the Mopar faithful over.
Stellantis simply can’t afford another year of slipping sales and eroding dealer confidence. With Kuniskis back in the driver’s seat, the company isn’t just reviving SRT, it’s reviving belief, and for die-hard fans of American performance, his appointment should signal renewed optimism for American muscle and beyond.
Images: Stellantis