We caught up with Tim Kuniskis, the Head of American Brands for Stellantis, at the Detroit Auto Show. 2025 was a busy year for Tim and the automaker, so we dive into some of what went on last year. Plus, a little bit about what’s in store for 2026.
The Return of the Hemi & TRX [01:21]: Kuniskis identifies the return of the Hemi engine as the most impactful move of the past year. This move enabled the relaunch of the RAM TRX, which is now more powerful and tech-heavy, yet priced lower than the previous generation at $99,000.
Rebirth of SRT and NASCAR Return [02:06]: The “Hemi ecosystem” allowed Stellantis to bring back the SRT performance division. Kuniskis highlights their return to NASCAR, including a new “free agent” driver program featuring Tony Stewart.
“Customer Pull” vs. “Manufacturer Push” [02:44]: A key strategic pillar for Kuniskis is building what customers actually want to buy rather than forcing electrification. He notes that while there is a space for EVs, the demand must grow naturally from the consumer side.
Why Stellantis is Killing Plug-in Hybrids (PHEVs) [04:17]: Kuniskis provides a masterclass on the “business case” of powertrains. He explains that PHEVs are being cut because the gap between manufacturing cost and what customers are willing to pay is too wide.
ICE/Hybrids: High customer willingness to pay + sustainable costs = Win.
PHEVs/BEVs: Manufacturing costs exceed customer value = Losses/Write-offs.
The 2025 “Foundation” and 2026 Momentum [06:33]: Despite a slow start to 2025, Kuniskis points to a strong Q4 (up 3%) and a Jeep sales surge in December. He reveals that while they only sold 10,000 Hemis in 2025 due to production ramps, they plan to build over 100,000 Hemis in 2026.
Upcoming Announcements [08:05]: Kuniskis teases major announcements for Q2 related to NASCAR and the return of another “new friend” (potential new vehicle or brand revival).
Nobody was “Forced” to buy an electrified vehicle. Sure, saying that is a good pander for the EV haters. But his statement is demonstrably false.
Many electrified Stella vehicles sold fairly well. The problem was that they weren’t reliable cars. And that was not the customers fault, now is it?
All he is doing is abandoning of the cleaning up their product lineup. And he’s only doing that because Trump is owned by oil, so he shitcanned environmental standards. The cancelling of the electrification of Stella NA vehicles only puts them even further behind WHEN the more affordable EV’s do get here. This move is so short sighted.
But whatever. Apparently, overweight, ‘bravado-filled’, ICE-only, bro-trucks is all that these guys want to offer. So, good luck with that…. (Not a fan)