Dodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles and trucks, sold by Chrysler LLC in over 60 different countries and territories worldwide. Founded as the Dodge Brothers Company in 1900 to supply parts and assemblies for Detroit’s growing auto industry, Dodge began making its own complete vehicles during 1914. The brand was sold to Chrysler Corporation in 1928, passed through the short-lived DaimlerChrysler merger of 1998-2007 as part of the unofficial "Chrysler Group", and is now a cornerstone of the new Chrysler LLC run by Cerberus Capital Management (a private equity investment firm).
Chrysler Corporation merged with Daimler-Benz AG in 1999 to form DaimlerChrysler, touted initially as a "merger of equals." Rationalizing Chrysler's broad lineup quickly became the first order of the day, and Dodge's sister brand Plymouth was chosen for the axe. With this move, Dodge now became the company's low-price leader as well as its performance division.
Most models, including the Intrepid, Stratus and Neon, were redesigned in a careful evolutionary way during the early 2000s as the company felt things out. Dodge's first experience of any synergies with the German side of the company came in the form of the new Magnum sports wagon, introduced for 2005 as a replacement for the Intrepid. Featuring Chrysler's first mainstream rear-wheel drive platform since the 1980s and a revival of the Hemi V8 engine, it was a modest success. But it was the rebirth of the Charger in 2006 on the same platform that was the real winner. Offered in a variety of models ranging from very mild to very wild, it quickly became a top contender in the mid-size market.
Further synergies were explored in the form of an extensive platform-sharing arrangement with Mitsubishi, which spawned the Caliber subcompact as a replacement for the Neon and (in a limited way) the recently-introduced Avenger sedan. And the successful rear-drive chassis will be used in early 2008 to build a brand new Challenger, in the same evocative style as the original 1970 edition. In Spring 2007, DaimlerChrysler reached an agreement with Cerberus Capital Management to sell off its Chrysler Group subsidiary, of which the Dodge division remains a part.
Dodge vehicles are now available in many countries throughout the world. In 2006, Dodge sold more than 1.3 million vehicles in the global market.
Over the years, Dodge has become at least as well-known for its many truck models as for its prodigious passenger car output. The Ram was redesigned again for 2002 (and the Dakota followed in 2004), basically as an evolution of the original but now featuring the revival of Chrysler’s legendary Hemi V8 engine. New medium-duty chassis-cab models were introduced for 2007,
North American model lineup: Dodge Avenger (2008-present) Dodge Caliber (2007-present) Dodge Charger (2006-present) Dodge Dakota (1987-present) Dodge Durango (1998-present) Dodge Grand Caravan (1987-present). United States models: Dodge 330 (1963-1964) Dodge 400 (1982-1983) Dodge 440 (1963-1964)
Dodge 600 (1983-1988) Dodge 880 and Custom 880 (1962-1965) Dodge Aries (1981-1989) Dodge Aspen (1976-1980) Dodge Avenger (1995-2000, 2008) Dodge Caliber (2007-present) Dodge Caravan and Mini-Ram Van (1984-present) Dodge Challenger (1970-1974, 1978-1983 as rebadged Mitsubishi Galant, 2008)
Dodge Charger (1966-1978, 1983-1987, 2006-present, see also Dodge Super Bee) Dodge Colt (1971-1994 as rebadged Mitsubishi Galant, Mirage and Lancer models) Dodge Conquest (1984-1986 as rebadged Mitsubishi Starion) Dodge Coronet (1949-1959, 1965-1976, see also 1955-1957 Dodge and Dodge Super Bee) Dodge Dart (1960-1976) Dodge Daytona (1984-1993) Dodge Demon (1971-1972) Dodge Diplomat (1977-1989) Dodge Dynasty (1988-1993) Dodge Eight (1930-1933) Dodge Fast Four (1927-1928)
Dodge Intrepid (1993-2004) Dodge Journey (2009) Dodge Lancer (1961-1962, 1985-1989) Dodge Magnum (1978-1979, 2005-2008) Dodge Matador (1960) Dodge Meadowbrook (1949-1954) Dodge Mirada (1980-1983)
Dodge Model 30 (1914-1922) Dodge Monaco and Royal Monaco (1965-1978, 1990-1992) Dodge Neon (1995-2005, see also Dodge SRT-4) Dodge Omni (1978-1990, see also Dodge 024) Dodge Polara (1960-1973) Dodge Royal (1954-1959, see also 1955-1957 Dodge) Dodge Senior (1927-1930) Dodge Series 116 (1923-1925) Dodge Series 126 (1926-1927) Dodge Shadow (1987-1994) Dodge Sierra and Suburban (1957-1959, see also 1955-1957 Dodge) Dodge Six (1929-1949) Dodge Spirit (1989-1995) Dodge Standard (1928-1929) Dodge Stealth (1991-1996 as rebadged Mitsubishi GTO) Dodge Stratus (1995-2006) Dodge St. Regis (1979-1981) Dodge Victory (1928-1929) Dodge Viper (1992-present) Dodge Wayfarer (1949-1952). Trucks, vans, and SUVs: Dodge A Series (1964-1970) Dodge Bighorn (1973-1975) Dodge B Series (1971-1980) Dodge Commercial (1928-1930, 1933-1938) Dodge C Series (1960-1975) Dodge D50 (1979-1980 as rebadged Mitsubishi Forte) Dodge Dakota (1987-present) Dodge D Series (1957-1980, see also Dodge Town Panel, Town Wagon, and Warlock) Dodge Durango (1998-present) Dodge Heavy-Duty (1942-1949) Dodge Light Truck (1939-1956, see also Dodge C Series) Dodge L Series (1965-1975) Dodge Merchant's Express (1928-1930) Dodge Nitro (2007-present) Dodge Power Wagon (1946-1980) Dodge Raider (1987-1989 as rebadged Mitsubishi Pajero) Dodge Ram (1981-present) Dodge Ram 50 (1981-1993 as rebadged Mitsubishi Forte) Dodge Ramcharger (1974-1993) Dodge Rampage (1982-1984) Dodge Ram Van (1981-2003) Dodge Ram Wagon (1981-2002) Dodge Route Van (1948-1959) Dodge Series 1 (1917-1922) Dodge Series 2 (1923) Dodge Series 3 (1924-1925) Dodge Series 4 (1926) Dodge Sprinter (2003-present as rebadged Mercedes-Benz Sprinter).
