Are Dodge and Plymouth the same?
No. Dodge and Plymouth were distinct brands within the Chrysler family. Dodge remains an active brand under Stellantis today, while Plymouth was discontinued in 2001 and its dealer network phased out in the following years. The companies often shared platforms and engineering, but they retained separate identities and market positioning.
To understand the question in depth, it helps to trace the origins of each brand, how they evolved through periods of corporate consolidation, and why one brand survived while the other did not. This article lays out the key milestones, the practice of badge engineering, and the current status of both brands within the Stellantis umbrella.
Origins and brand identities
From the early 20th century, Dodge and Plymouth operated as distinct marques under Chrysler. Dodge, founded in 1900, built a reputation around performance and trucks, while Plymouth, launched in 1928, aimed to offer affordable, value-oriented cars to a broad mass market. Over the decades, their product palettes sometimes overlapped, and engineers often shared platforms and components to reduce development costs.
Brand status today
Today, Dodge is one of Stellantis’ core brands and continues to release a broad lineup of passenger cars, SUVs, and trucks. Plymouth, by contrast, was retired as a brand in 2001, with its nameplates eventually phased out and its branding removed from new-car marketing. Stellantis (the result of Chrysler’s mergers and reorganizations) has not revived Plymouth as a separate consumer brand.
Badge engineering and model sharing
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Chrysler frequently used badge engineering, selling essentially the same car under different brand names to target separate buyer groups. The following pairs illustrate how Dodge and Plymouth shared designs while maintaining distinct identities:
- Plymouth Voyager/Grand Voyager vs Dodge Grand Caravan (minivans)
- Plymouth Neon vs Dodge Neon (compact sedans)
- Plymouth Breeze vs Dodge Stratus (mid-size sedans)
- Dodge Aries/Sundance vs Plymouth Reliant/Sundance (K-car era compact cars)
- Dodge Shadow vs Plymouth Sundance (compact coupes)
These badge-engineered pairings show how the brands were technically linked yet marketed to different audiences, a practice common in Chrysler’s lineup for much of the late 20th century. The strategy allowed the company to maximize footprint across price points and dealer networks while maintaining brand distinctiveness on the showroom floor.
Key milestones in the Dodge–Plymouth relationship
Below is a concise timeline that highlights how the brands evolved within Chrysler and the broader corporate changes that followed. The events reflect corporate strategy and market shifts rather than the day-to-day design of individual vehicles.
- 1900: Dodge founded as a separate automaker; Plymouth is later introduced as Chrysler’s value-brand in 1928.
- 1980s–1990s: Widespread badge engineering continues; Dodge and Plymouth share platforms across several model lines (minivans, compacts, and mid-size cars).
- 2001: Plymouth brand is discontinued in the United States; remaining Plymouth models are either rebranded or phased out in subsequent years.
- 2009–2014: Chrysler undergoes bankruptcy and restructuring, leading to the formation of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) in 2014.
- 2021: FCA merges with PSA Group to form Stellantis, the current corporate home of Dodge and the former Plymouth brands.
These milestones illustrate how Dodge and Plymouth operated as complementary brands for decades, and how shifts in corporate strategy ultimately led to Plymouth’s retirement while Dodge continued as a live brand under Stellantis.
Summary
In short, Dodge and Plymouth were never the same brand; they were separate marques within Chrysler that often shared engineering and designs through badge engineering. Plymouth was discontinued as a stand-alone brand in 2001, while Dodge remains active today under Stellantis. The two brands reflect a broader history of product differentiation, corporate restructuring, and strategic branding within the American auto industry.
Are Chrysler and Dodge the same thing?
Chrysler is not Dodge, and Chrysler does not own the Dodge brand. Chrysler and Dodge have a parent company called Stellantis. Under the Chrysler and Dodge parent company, Stellantis, you'll find other popular makes such as Jeep and RAM.
When did Plymouth become part of Dodge?
In 1928 Chrysler first purchased the Fargo Motor Car Company, next introduced the new Plymouth and mid-level DeSoto models, and then purchased the Dodge Brothers Company from the Dillon-Read Company. In 1929 mass production started under Chrysler for Plymouth, DeSoto, Fargo Trucks & Cars, and Dodge Trucks.
Is Plymouth better than Dodge?
When comparing the Plymouth brand to the Dodge brand, Dodge has the advantage in the areas of horsepower, fuel efficiency and variety of models offered. Plymouth versus Dodge: Pricing and Value: The lower overall prices for Plymouth, plus their lower depreciation rate, gives Plymouth the overall advantage over Dodge.
Was the Barracuda a Dodge or Plymouth?
Plymouth Barracuda. The Plymouth Barracuda is a two-door pony car that was manufactured by Chrysler Corporation from 1964 through 1974 model years. The first-generation Barracuda was based on the Chrysler A-body and was offered from 1964 until 1966.
