Are Dodge and Mercedes the same company?
No. They are not the same company. Dodge is a brand owned by Stellantis, the multinational automaker formed from the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and PSA Group. Mercedes-Benz is a brand of Mercedes-Benz Group, the German automaker that emerged from Daimler AG. They operate independently under different corporate umbrellas.
Despite sharing the global automotive landscape, their ownership, market focus, and historical paths diverge. Dodge leans toward American, mass-market vehicles and performance models; Mercedes-Benz centers on luxury, technology, and global premium mobility. This distinction helps explain why the names often appear in the same conversations about cars yet belong to separate companies.
Corporate ownership and brands
Key facts about who owns and manages each brand, as of 2025:
- Dodge is a brand of Stellantis, the automotive group formed by the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and PSA Group.
- Mercedes-Benz is a brand of Mercedes-Benz Group, the German automaker formerly known as Daimler AG (with the truck business spun off into Daimler Truck AG).
- Dodge focuses on the U.S. market and a mix of muscle cars, trucks, and performance variants; Mercedes-Benz operates globally as a luxury marque with a broad lineup spanning sedans, SUVs, and high-end technology.
These ownership facts illustrate that the Dodge and Mercedes-Benz names belong to separate corporate families rather than a single company.
Brand histories
Origins of Dodge
The Dodge Brothers, John and Horace Dodge, founded their company in Detroit in 1900. Dodge became part of Chrysler Corporation in 1928 after producing cars for the early auto era and establishing a reputation for performance and practicality. After a series of mergers, Dodge ended up under Stellantis in 2021 when FCA merged with PSA Group to form the new parent company.
Origins of Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz traces its roots to Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz, whose separate firms helped pioneer the automobile in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In 1926, their companies merged to form Daimler-Benz AG, and the Mercedes-Benz brand emerged as the luxury face of the group. Following corporate restructuring, the automotive division sits under Mercedes-Benz Group (the modern successor to Daimler AG), with Daimler Truck handling the other half of the business.
Summary
In short, Dodge and Mercedes-Benz are not the same company. They are distinct brands under separate global parent groups—Stellantis for Dodge and Mercedes-Benz Group for Mercedes-Benz—each with its own history, market positioning, and product focus.
