The Breakdown
- Chrysler Chris Feuell is stepping away for personal reasons.
- She's led the company since 2021.
- Dodge CEO Matt McAlear will step in to run Chrysler and provide oversight for Alfa Romeo in North America.
Chris Feuell is stepping away from her position as CEO of Chrysler. According to Automotive News, the move is for personal reasons. Feuell has helmed the minivan-only brand since 2021, while also overseeing Alfa Romeo's North American operations.
Stellantis has appointed current Dodge CEO Matt McAlear as her replacement. McAlear will continue to run Dodge, handle top-dog duties for Chrysler, and oversee Alfa Romeo.
McAlear takes over at Chrysler after the company posted a one-percent rise in year-over-year sales. Still, the brand has just two products, and they're both minivans: the Pacifica and the Voyager.
A new Pacifica is slated to arrive in 2027, but Chrysler could benefit from a full-size premium sedan as well. There are rumors that a new 300 sits in development, but the brand could definitely use an SUV as well.
As for Alfa Romeo, McAlear has a tougher road ahead. Sales fell 36 percent last year, and the model lineup is due for updates that are more than mild facelifts. There's a new Giulia scheduled to arrive relatively soon, but we still don't know exactly what it will look like.
Motor1's Take: Matt McAlear has big plans for Dodge with the return of V8 engines to the lineup. Perhaps Chrysler could borrow a bit from that portfolio. Slap a Chrysler badge on a Durango, make it a bit nicer on the inside, and raise the price.
Perhaps Chrysler could even develop a performance brand on par with Dodge's Hellcat variants. Chrysler 300 Hellcat, anyone?
Source: Automotive News
