A great-grandson of Walter P. Chrysler says he has a plan to rescue Chrysler and Dodge from the European ownership that has allowed their product offerings to languish.
In an open letter to Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares, Frank Rhodes proposes acquiring the historic brands through a newly formed company with “forward-thinking” management.
“I believe my plan would allow Stellantis to make a graceful and profitable exit from a brand that I believe it has no interest in keeping, and is already trying to exit quietly, without much publicity and with minimal UAW association turmoil,” Rhodes wrote. “I would like to see jobs saved, jobs expanded, and the Iconic Brands reinvigorated, and a truly proud American ownership that I would envision having all employees, suppliers and brand enthusiasts eagerly awaiting exciting new automobiles, rather than the tired and uninspiring models that still remain in the Chrysler/Dodge brand portfolio.”
It’s unclear whether Rhodes has any financial backing for such a costly venture, or whether Stellantis would be open to selling any of the U.S. operations Tavares has overseen since the 2021 merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and PSA Group. A Stellantis spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
In a YouTube video, Rhodes talks about Chrysler’s heritage and his vision to revive the brand his great-grandfather founded in honor of its 100th anniversary next year.
“I’m very proud of what this company has done, and I don’t want to see it disappear,” he says. “We need to keep our American brands here.”
Rhodes tried to block the merger with Stellantis and fought to save the Chrysler 300 from being discontinued. (He says he bought the last 300C produced in 2023.) In the letter to Tavares, published on MoparInsiders.com, he acknowledges being “sometimes seemingly a thorn in his side” and says he holds only a “token position” at Stellantis.