Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis unveils the Charger Daytona SRT idea electrical muscle automobile on Aug. 17, 2022 in Pontiac, Mich.
Michael Wayland / CNBC
DETROIT — Well-known Stellantis govt Tim Kuniskis can be returning to the automaker, efficient instantly, CNBC has discovered.
Kuniskis, who retired from the automaker earlier this yr, will as soon as once more lead the corporate’s Ram Trucks model, in keeping with two sources conversant in the choice. The sources, who agreed to talk on the situation of anonymity to debate the transfer, mentioned the corporate’s management staff alerted workers of the choice earlier Monday.
His return comes roughly every week after Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares unexpectedly resigned from the automaker following issues with the automaker’s North American market.
“Today’s modifications will allow us to function in a construction that can drive the most effective outcomes for the area, unlock important potential and win out there. A major lever is for the Ram model to have its CEO singularly centered on that model,” the corporate mentioned in an emailed assertion confirming the appointment.
Kuniskis, who has overseen a number of of the carmaker’s manufacturers in North America, had led the corporate’s Ram and Dodge manufacturers earlier than retiring.
Kuniskis is arguably finest identified for main Dodge for many of the final decade or so. He is taken into account the “father” of Dodge’s high-performance Hellcat fashions and “the unofficial spokesman” for American muscle automobiles.
During his tenure, Dodge reestablished itself as a quintessential American muscle automobile model. The model did so with autos such because the greater than 700 horsepower Challenger and Charger Hellcat fashions and controversial Challenger Demon drag race automobiles.
Kuniskis’ return was introduced along with a number of different modifications for the automaker’s North American operations. Chris Feuell, who had been main the Ram and Chrysler manufacturers, will now oversee Chrysler and Alfa Romeo; Jeff Kommor will solely lead North American gross sales; and Larry Dominique, who was main Alfa Romeo for North America, will depart.
