Tim Kuniskis, Father of the Hellcat, Returns to Stellantis

Former – and once-again – Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis surprised the automotive industry by announcing his return to Stellantis after just six months in retirement. The Ram and one-time Dodge executive had left his post on June 1, but quickly realized he missed the action in the automotive sector.

“The first two weeks were fun, but after that, you're bored to death,” he said at a media event this week to introduce new heavy-duty pickup models expected in early 2025.

Ram tough, but in tough
His return comes during a difficult period for Ram. U.S. sales fell 24 percent in the first nine months of 2024, and the brand is trying to overcome production delays and a still-full order book.

“Let's be perfectly honest: we are getting our asses kicked,” acknowledged Kuniskis. But he added that “it’s getting better, and it’s going to change.”

Delays in the launch of the new Ram 1500 were compounded by production problems. However, increased efforts on marketing and incentives helped boost sales in the third quarter.

Read more