The Hemi V8 is back in the 2026 Ram 1500. Photo: Courtesy of Stellantis
Stellantis' strategy to get back on track after a dismal 2024 is to reconnect with customers by giving them more of what they want: muscle cars and Hemi V8 engines.
Why it matters: Stellantis was never wild about electric vehicles or fuel-sipping engines, and now that the regulatory pressures that had pushed the company in that direction are easing, it's bringing back the muscle.
The big picture: 2025 is going to be "a tough year," said new CEO Antonio Filosa, who highlighted signs of progress in the first half but acknowledged that "we still have tons of work to do in North America."
Between the lines: Stellantis needs to grow to get back to good health, according to Filosa, and that means reversing decisions by his predecessor, Carlos Tavares, to phase out popular models like the Jeep Cherokee, a base-level Ram pickup and the gasoline-powered Dodge Charger.
Seven models were killed in all, accounting for 300,000 units and "several billions" in revenue, Filosa said. "So now we are restoring that lineup."
"Bringing back the Hemi V8 engine was not a difficult decision; actually, it was an obvious one," he added in a call with analysts.
Within 24 hours, Stellantis had more than 10,000 orders for Hemi-powered Ram pickups, he said.
What to watch: It will take more than restoring gas-guzzling muscle cars to Stellantis' lineup to bring the company back from the brink.
Executives warned that "tough decisions" are yet to come in the second half.
