Are Plymouth and Dodge the same company?
They are not the same company. Plymouth was a separate brand created by Chrysler in 1928 and discontinued in 2001, while Dodge remains an active brand under Stellantis. The two brands share a common corporate heritage but operate as distinct divisions within the same overarching automaker.
Origins and corporate structure
To understand their relationship, it helps to look at how Chrysler organized its brands over the decades and how corporate ownership evolved into today’s automaker structure.
- 1914: The Dodge Brothers Company is founded by John and Horace Dodge, laying the groundwork for a separate Dodge brand under the Chrysler umbrella.
- 1928: Chrysler launches Plymouth as a distinct, lower-priced brand to broaden its market reach alongside Dodge.
- 1960s–1970s: Dodge and Plymouth operate as separate marques with their own model lines and dealer networks under the Chrysler corporate umbrella.
- 1980s–1990s: Chrysler maintains both brands, leveraging shared platforms and engineering while keeping them as separate names.
- 2001: Chrysler discontinues the Plymouth brand; Dodge continues as the surviving brand with its own lineup.
- 2009–2010s: Chrysler undergoes restructuring during bankruptcy; the brands come under the umbrella of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) after the bailout and corporate reorganization.
- 2021–present: FCA merges with PSA to form Stellantis, under which Dodge remains an active brand, while Plymouth remains defunct.
In summary, Dodge and Plymouth were sister brands under the same parent company for much of their histories, but Plymouth was retired while Dodge continued to operate.
Current status and ownership
As of the latest available information, Plymouth is no longer marketed as a separate brand in North America or globally. Dodge is an active brand under Stellantis, with a lineup that includes models such as the Challenger and Charger, among others.
Why the distinction matters
The two brands reflect a legacy of corporate branding strategies—how automakers tried to segment the market by price, performance, and target customer. Although they originated from the same parent company, their identities, product portfolios, and market presences diverged over time.
Summary
Plymouth and Dodge are not the same company. They were distinct brands within Chrysler’s family, with Plymouth eventually being retired in 2001 and Dodge continuing as a current, active brand that is now part of Stellantis. The historical connection is clear, but today they operate as separate brand identities within a larger corporate structure.
