"Tim Kuniskis returns to Stellantis as Ram CEO"
Luke Ramseth - The Detroit News
December 9, 2024

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/b...ns-to-stellantis-as-ram-ceo/76860401007/

Tim Kuniskis, a popular Stellantis NV executive who retired last spring, is coming back to lead the Ram brand, the automaker confirmed.

Kuniskis — perhaps best known for rebuilding Dodge's muscle car reputation — retired in June after 32 years with the company. He was most recently head of both Ram and Dodge.

Effective Monday, the 57-year-old is back, now leading the Ram brand. He takes over for Chris Feuell, who will continue to lead Chrysler and now also takes on the responsibility of overseeing Alfa Romeo's North American operations, Stellantis spokesperson Shawn Morgan said.

The automaker has faced a series of major leadership changes and departures this year amid profit and sales challenges, with the highest-profile being CEO Carlos Tavares' resignation about a week ago. The automaker has begun a process to find a replacement and named an interim committee to run the company in the meantime.

Morgan said Stellantis is focused on setting up a North American operating structure that is "going to drive the best outcomes for the region," as well as "unlock the potential to win" in the market. To that end, she said the company believed it was important for Ram to have a leader who was singularly focused on that brand. CNBC first reported Kuniskis' return.

Rams are highly profitable for the company, but like other Stellantis brands, sales of its pickups and vans have fallen in the U.S. this year, down 24% in the first three quarters compared to 2023.

Other changes announced to Stellantis employees Monday included Jeff Kommor overseeing a combined North American retail and commercial sales organization, expanding his previous duties focused on the commercial side. Matt Thompson, who had taken over leading U.S. retail sales last May, will report to Kommor on sales strategy and planning.

Larry Dominique, who had led Alfa Romeo operations in North America, will depart the company now that Feuell is heading the region.

lramseth@detroitnews.com

Stellantis is teetering on the edge of being sold or total failure. Tim at least has some understanding of the American market, something that the foreigner's have no clue. Who would have ever guessed that taking away the V-8 in the 1500 Ram was a bad idea (ask Ford)

In any case, they need attractive products: 6-cylinder & EV Chargers ain't gonna get it.
They need to come up with something on the order of the Caravan, or cheap speed like the Road Runner & Swinger, or the segment-best compact SUV (apparently the Hornet isn't a hit).

"Chris Feuell, who will continue to lead Chrysler and now also takes on the responsibility of overseeing Alfa Romeo's North American operations"

So, he's going to have a private office to drink coffee and play Wordle all day?

Not a he, its Christine and she came from Westinghouse selling toasters. This is who Tavares thought could save Chrysler

I am so glad they canned that fool

Alfa is a dead brand walking, its only hope is going back to being a boutique subsidiary of Ferrari where they can dump old platforms and engines. Like KTM does with GasGas dirt bikes

"Never get involved with a business you know nothing about." From my old former business partner - I've never seen this advice get shot-down.

Chrysler has not contacted me yet.........................

I like the comment about the Roadrunner - I think like that too. People will reach in their wallets if they see something that lights their fire. What do you all think MIGHT happen if Ford brought back a FAITHFUL reemergence of the 66 Mustangs - all models - with the same color availability, but modern drivetrains & all the essentials? (brakes, similar but updated suspension, interior styling, etc). It wouldn't even require new styling concepts or any guesswork. And no EV baloney either.

I'm in the twilight of my work career, but not ready to call it quits yet.

Makes me sigh in frustration when a prominent Youtuber fan boy or an adoring forum member boasts with star struck eyes saying something like "The new turbo 6 cyl engine makes more power and torque than the outgoing V8 and gets better mileage too." It's not what the buying/financing customer wants. Bragging up a turd doesn't change it from being a Turd. During the peak of the new Ram turbo 6 showing its lack of quality a decent youtuber named Racer X did a glowing review on this new eco-friendly engine praising it like a Tesla Fan boy. He got lots of dislikes and roasts, His glowing review did not help sales, nor did it change the fact that engine is a liability. A compromised piece of junk.

Any company that is in North America, and then is acquired by a European company . . . look out. Very different cultures and ways of doing business. I know, I have worked for a north american company for over 23 years, that was bought (acquired) by a French company . . . took then about 5 years and they then changed north america to suit their vision/culture - so many layers of "mid managers" and paper work (god help you if you make a decision without filling out the paperwork, or getting the "concencous" from committee). Look what Daimler tried when they bought Chrysler . . . did not work for them . . . and then all the different "european" platforms they tried to make into a North American vehicle - HA !! All flopped . . .


The start of this decline was killing off the Dodge Journey, without a replacement. Just when the market is saying SUV (something economical !) . . . sure the Journey wasn't the best out there, but the bang for the buck was !! . . . hate to say it, but how many of us on this board are OVER 60 (or even 50) . . . the younger buyers are the ones that will be buying in quantity . . . so, where are the vehicles they want ?? Something small, value packed, and priced right . . .that IS NOT a Charger, Challenger, Jeep, Ram truck, Pacifica or 300. What a dismal lineup of vehicles they have today. Look at GM, or Ford, or Toyota, or Nissan - midsize trucks . . . selling like crazy ! Where is the "Dakota" ?? Look at the HIT Ford has with the "wee Maverick" truck . . . because in reality, that is all the "truck" a ton (obviously by the sales of it) of people want/need. Why is it taking them so long to figure out what the other manufacturers are selling ??? . . .

Just my 2cents worth . . .

They handed the journey (value / people mover) market to Kia/Hyundai on a silver platter while they scratch their heads wondering what to do with Chrysler as a brand

Ford has 'success' with the Maverick and its a screaming dung pile. The service history and lemon buybacks are not good on that rig. But, it shows there is a market for a vehicle like that. I know of a local couple that doubled down on stupid. They had so many issues with their Maverick, Ford decided to buy it back. So...what did they do? Got another one.

Kuniskis to Stellantis, North America, right now is a Hail Mary.

If anyone can fix their mess, it's him. Otherwise, good luck.

It's too late Stellantis (or the Chrysler side) is done for. It will never recover now.

There is a hope. Small one, but a hope. And the hope rests on one word: choice.

Right now, Stellantis' North American market doesn't have it. You get a CUV, an older minivan, a half-ton four-door truck, or a work truck. Excepting work trucks, you get smaller engines across the board. Chrysler is a dead brand walking with the Pacifica holding it up. The Hornet...the less said, the better. Ram has options, but not in the ways buyers want and whoever decided to use Jeep as the outlet to sell Little Tykes toys as off-roaders should be named and shamed.

Solutions? Here's what I would do:

Dodge: Charger gets everything: BEV (it's already there), I-6 and Hemi options. You want power? Check the box. Two doors or four? Check the box. Modern sleek or painted 1970s "I Nailed Your Mom And Regret Nothing" red, with stickers and spoilers? Check the box. Hornet gets a can of Raid and hopefully forgotten. Get to work on a smaller five-door hatchback with potent turbo-four or six power.

Ram: Hemi in all trucks, period. Inline-six as an available option on half-tons. Hybrid on half-tons. Give a half-ton Tradesman with an extended cab and longbed.

Chrysler: Where the hell is the Airflow? Update Pacifica. Create five-door LWB off of Charger platform that could occupy limo/airport executive shuttle, power with I-6 H.O. engine.

Jeep: If it is Fiat-based, it dies. Massive quality control program with public acknowledgement for damage control. Create better personality split between Grand Cherokee and Wagoneer lines - Wagoneer is luxury, GC needs more off-road chops.

I was happy to hear of Tim's return.

A lot of doom and gloom. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. But this isn't 1978. They are not losing billions, they don't have huge sales banks, etc. Yes, profits are down, share is down, stock is down.

A change from cost-cutting Carlos is welcome it would seem. Work is already underway to right some wrongs. It will be interesting to see where this all goes.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/com...rrogant-mistakes-sources-say/ar-AA1vATvt