Skip to main content

News in the automotive industry has been heavily peppered with stories about Stellantis and declining sales. This spurred rumors about selling off a few brands like Chrysler and Dodge. So, the Chrysler heir volunteered to buy them only to be disrespected. 

The Chrysler heir was rudely dismissed by Stellantis 

Reportedly, Frank B. Rhodes is the great-grandson of Walter Chrysler. Walter founded the brand in 1925 and it has experienced decades of success. 

But Fiat Chrysler merged with the PSA group under the name Stellantis in 2021. Stellantis found itself pretty busy while trying to keep 14 brands alive. 

Things aren’t going well in America as Jeep, Dodge, Ram, and Chrysler experience declining sales. This led to Stellantis CEO, Carlos Tavares threatening to cut underperforming brands. 

He shared that if the brands don’t make money then they will be shut down. Stellantis can’t afford to have brands that don’t make money. 

So Chrysler’s heir, Frank B. Rhodes offered to restore glory to his family name by buying Chrysler, Dodge, and Mopar. 

He wrote a 17-page proposal to Travares. It mentions a refocus on innovation, to reinvigorate customers, and to get back to American roots. 

Frank also included a six-minute YouTube video to explain what Chrysler means to him. The video shows memorabilia from the company’s 99-year history. 

The 2024 Jeep Wrangler off-roading
2024 Jeep Wrangler | Stellantis

Frank shared that he is here to let the people know about the quality Chrysler vehicles had in the early days and he’s proud of the company’s success. He doesn’t want to see it go away. 

However, Travares completely dismissed his proposal. Instead of taking the time to craft a personal response, a press release was published. 

It acknowledges interest in the North American brands and reaffirms the brand’s commitment to its entire portfolio of 14 brands. Each was given a 10-year time frame to build a profitable and sustainable business. 

Jeep, Ram, Chrysler, and Dodge are at the forefront of Stellantis’ transition to clean mobility, benefiting from cutting-edge technology and scale. It’s not pursuing splitting off any brands. 

The Chrysler heir is disappointed that Stellantis provided an indirect public response instead of having the courtesy of a direct reply. 

Best in Cars
Avatar photo
Staff Writer

Allison Barfield

Allison Barfield joined MotorBiscuit in 2020 and covers all things trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps. Having grown up on a farm in Rock Hill, South Carolina, she’s no stranger to the “Best in Class” truck and SUV debates; people in her hometown were always gathering to help work on vehicles together, and deliberation would naturally arise.

Allison graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Media Arts. She has helped bring awareness to issues Women In Trucking face and has promoted Truckers Against Trafficking, an anti-trafficking NGO.

A fan of creatively dark literature, Allison appreciates the works of Shirley Jackson and Emily Dickenson. She lives in a mountainous area of the country and enjoys off-roading and camping. Her dog, Bruce, often joins her in testing trucks and SUVs for our site.