How old is Dodge brand?
The modern Dodge automobile marque dates back to 1914, which makes it 111 years old in 2025. If you count the broader Dodge corporate lineage starting with the Dodge Brothers in 1900, that ancestry is 125 years old as of 2025. The brand’s evolution includes significant ownership changes, most notably the Chrysler era beginning in 1928 and the Stellantis era established in 2021.
Origins and Timeline
The following milestones trace the Dodge brand from its early roots to its current status in the global automotive landscape.
- 1900 — Dodge Brothers Company is founded by John and Horace Dodge in Detroit to manufacture auto parts and components for the burgeoning industry.
- 1914 — Dodge introduces the Model 30, marking the Dodge name as a full-fledged automobile maker and establishing the modern Dodge brand.
- 1928 — Chrysler Corporation acquires the Dodge Brothers Company, integrating Dodge into its lineup and expanding its national presence.
- 1960s–1970s — Dodge solidifies a performance-oriented reputation with models like the Charger and Challenger, strengthening its muscle-car identity.
- 1980s–1990s — Dodge remains a core American brand within Chrysler, broadening into vans, pickups, and sportier offerings.
- 2009 — Fiat S.p.A. takes control of Chrysler during restructuring, setting the stage for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) formation.
- 2014 — FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) is established as a single corporate entity, with Dodge continuing as a key brand within the group.
- 2021 — Stellantis is formed from the merger of FCA and PSA, placing Dodge under the Stellantis umbrella and aligning it with a global portfolio.
- Present — Dodge remains known for its performance-oriented models (e.g., Challenger, Charger) and family-friendly SUVs (e.g., Durango) within Stellantis’s international lineup.
Taken together, these milestones show how the Dodge brand’s age can be viewed in two ways: 111 years as the modern automobile marque since 1914, or 125 years if you count the Dodge Brothers’ corporate origins from 1900.
Ownership and corporate structure over time
The Dodge lineage began with the Dodge Brothers in 1900, later becoming a dedicated automotive marque under Chrysler in 1928. After the 2009 restructuring and the 2021 Stellantis merger, Dodge operates as a brand within Stellantis, focusing on muscle-car heritage and modern SUVs.
Current Status
Today, Dodge is a core brand within Stellantis, recognized for performance models like the Challenger and Charger, as well as sportier SUVs and crossovers. Its product strategy emphasizes American design and performance, while the parent company manages a broad global portfolio.
Summary
In short, the Dodge brand’s age depends on counting method: the modern Dodge marque has existed since 1914, making it 111 years old in 2025, while the broader Dodge corporate lineage traces back to 1900, totaling 125 years. Through successive ownership shifts—from Chrysler to FCA to Stellantis—Dodge has maintained its identity as a distinctive American automotive force.
What is the oldest car brand?
The oldest car brand is Peugeot, founded in 1810 in France. While it started as a family business that made coffee mills and bicycles, it produced its first steam-powered car in 1889 and its first petrol-powered car in 1890. Other old brands include Mercedes-Benz (1883), Opel (1862), and Škoda (1895).
- Peugeot: Founded in 1810, it's the oldest surviving car manufacturer, though it didn't start producing cars until the late 1800s.
- Mercedes-Benz: Founded in 1883, it is sometimes credited with building the world's first modern automobile.
- Opel: Founded in 1862, it is another very old car manufacturer that began production in the mid-1800s.
- Škoda: Founded in 1895, it is another long-standing brand that is still in operation today.
Who was first, Dodge or Chevy?
The Ford Motor Company was the first brand as it was founded in 1903 by the very famous Henry Ford. Eight years later, Louis Chevrolet and William Durant started Chevrolet in 1911 and three years later in 1914 the Dodge brothers, Horace Elgin Dodge and John Francis Dodge, founded the “Dodge Brothers” brand.
What is the oldest Dodge car?
On November 14, 1914, the first Dodge car was delivered to John and Horace, the Dodge Brothers. Nicknamed “Old Betsy,” the car rolled off the assembly line at the Dodge Brothers' Hamtramck factory. The four-passenger car was priced at $785, featured a 110- inch wheelbase, and was powered by a four-cylinder engine.
How old is the Dodge car company?
The Dodge car company is 125 years old, having been founded in 1900 by brothers John and Horace Dodge. It started as the Dodge Brothers Company, initially manufacturing parts for other automakers before releasing its own vehicle in 1914.
- 1900: John and Horace Dodge founded the Dodge Brothers Company in Detroit, Michigan, initially as a parts supplier for companies like Olds and Ford.
- 1914: The company released its first automobile, the Dodge Model 30.
- 1928: Chrysler Corporation acquired the Dodge brand.
