Stellantis has spent the past few years watching some of its most important American brands struggle with high prices, aging products, and questionable bets on electrification. Its latest turnaround idea starts with something refreshingly simple: cheaper vehicles.
The automaker plans to launch 11 new vehicles in North America over the next five years, and seven of them will start below $40,000. Two are expected to slip below the $30,000 mark.
CEO Antonio Filosa outlined the strategy during an automotive conference in Detroit, telling The Detroit News that affordable vehicles represent a “huge opportunity” for the company. Stellantis currently has very little competing at the inexpensive end of the U.S. market.
The stakes are substantial after Stellantis posted a $26.3 billion loss last year. Filosa expects modest revenue growth in 2026 and says the company intends to return to profitability next year.
Seven New Vehicles Will Start Under $40K
Filosa says Stellantis wants to give customers greater choice while paying closer attention to what buyers and dealers actually request. That philosophy will influence upcoming products across Jeep, Ram, Dodge, Chrysler, and the company’s other brands.
Two vehicles will start below $30,000, although Stellantis hasn’t identified both of them. Filosa pointed to the Jeep Compass as proof the company can operate at that price point, while the upcoming Ram Rampage could become another relatively affordable option.
Ram Is Going After Smaller Trucks
The Rampage is already sold in South and Central America, but a North American version is planned for 2028. Filosa specifically acknowledged Ford’s successful Maverick when discussing the opportunity for a compact Ram pickup.
Ram also intends to revive the Dakota in the midsize segment, giving Stellantis something to challenge trucks such as the Toyota Tacoma. The company currently relies heavily on full-size pickups in the U.S.
Extended-range powertrains are another piece of the strategy. Stellantis plans to introduce the technology in the refreshed Jeep Grand Wagoneer before bringing it to the Ram 1500, pairing a sizable battery with a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 acting as an onboard generator.
Current Sales Show Why Stellantis Needs A Shake-Up
Stellantis sold 324,277 vehicles in the U.S. during Q3, virtually unchanged from 324,825 a year earlier. Year-to-date sales are healthier, climbing 3% to 958,463 vehicles, although individual brands are moving in wildly different directions.
Ram had an excellent quarter, jumping 29% to 134,072 vehicles as Ram 1500 sales surged 73%. Jeep moved the opposite way, dropping 20% to 128,542 vehicles, while Alfa Romeo collapsed 65% to only 569.
Dodge also provided an interesting glimpse at what customers currently want. It sold 3,446 gasoline Chargers during the quarter compared with just 233 electric Charger Daytonas, while the aging Durango accounted for the vast majority of Dodge sales.
Those numbers help explain Filosa’s emphasis on listening to buyers. Stellantis doesn’t need every new model to reinvent its brands; getting desirable vehicles back into price ranges ordinary customers can reach might be a pretty good place to start.