End of an Era: Dodge/Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis Steps Down, June 1

Kuniskis was responsible for bringing us the Hellcat Hemi V8, and some of the most powerful models in the history of Dodge and Ram.

We were all still reeling from the reality that the Hemi V8 is going to be riding off into the sunset and replaced by electric motors. Now rubbing salt in the wound is the recent Stellantis announcement that Dodge and Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis is retiring effective June 1. He was with Stellantis (and Chrysler before that) for 32 years. And during his tenure he was responsible for bringing to the market some of the most powerful, aggressive, in-your-face machines in the history of the company. His leaving truly marks the end of an era.

Replacing Kuniskis at Dodge will be Matt McAlear, stepping up as CEO from his previous role as leader of Dodge sales operations. Chris Feuell is the current Chrysler CEO and she will now also assume the role of Ram CEO with the departure of Kuniskis. These are two highly-skilled Stellantis executives, but replacing the man that gave us our most beloved models will not be easy.

Stellantis Response

“I want to take the opportunity to warmly thank Tim for his passion, commitment and contributions to Stellantis and in defining the vision of the future electrified Ram and Dodge brands. I wish him well in his retirement,” said Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares, in a recent press statement. “I am confident that Chris will continue the work of Tim in leading the iconic Ram brand. Matt will bring a fresh perspective, while continuing to draw on the heritage of our iconic Dodge brand and leading the transition of the brand toward a sustainable future.”

Kuniskis Legacy

It is impossible to overstate the impact that Kuniskis has made on Dodge and Ram performance. His vision was to return Dodge to its muscle car roots. In 2015 he gave us the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat. A 707-horsepower monster that put Dodge back in the spotlight. But things only grew from there. A Charger Hellcat was also added to the mix. The 840-horsepower Challenger Demon shocked the world in 2018.

He even gave the Dodge Durango a Hellcat engine. And if that was not extreme enough, how about one stuffed into a pickup truck called the Ram TRX? Still not impressed? Kuniskis sent the Hemi V8 out with a bang thanks to the 1,025-horsepower Demon 170. Name your favorite Dodge and Ram models from the last decade and you can thank Kuniskis for all of them.

The Future

We all know that the whole automotive world, even Dodge and Ram, is heading towards electrification. Before Kuniskis decided to call it a career he helped get both brands on the path towards the future as well. He revealed the electric Charger Daytona and the electric Ram REV. These will be important vehicles for the future of Stellantis but they are not likely to be what Kuniskis is remembered for.

He will be remembered for making insanely powerful vehicles that defy reason and logic. They were built to swim against the current a bit. They were built to just put a huge smile on the face of anyone behind the wheel. Mr. Kuniskis, we wish you the best of luck in retirement and thank you for all the smiles.

Photos: Stellantis

Join the Dodge Forums now!

Joe Kucinski

Joe has been obsessed with cars since he got his very first Matchbox toy in the 1970s. In 2003, he found a new obsession in track days that led to obtaining his SCCA competition license in 2015. In 2019, he became a certified driving instructor for the National Auto Sport Association. His love for all things four wheels has never wavered, whether it's driving some of the best cars in the world on the racetrack, tackling 2,000-mile road trips in 2-seat sports cars or being winched off the side of a mountaintop in a Jeep. Writing for the suite of Internet Brands Auto Communities sites, including Rennlist.com, Ford Truck Enthusiasts, 6 Speed and more allows him to share that knowledge and passion with others.