Is Plymouth and Dodge the same company?
No. Plymouth and Dodge are not the same company; they were separate automobile brands under the same parent company, Chrysler, for many decades. Plymouth is no longer an active brand.
To understand why the question arises, it helps to review the history of how Plymouth and Dodge were organized within Chrysler, how they operated as siblings, and what happened to Plymouth as the brand was discontinued while Dodge continued to exist under the modern corporate umbrella now known as Stellantis.
Historical relationship: siblings under the same parent
Below are key milestones showing how Plymouth and Dodge operated side by side within Chrysler and how their paths diverged over time.
- Plymouth was established as a separate automobile marque in 1928 under Chrysler, created to offer affordable cars distinctly from Dodge and other brands.
- Dodge Brothers Company, dating back to 1900, was acquired by Chrysler in 1928, making Dodge a parallel brand alongside Plymouth within the same corporate family.
- Both brands shared platforms and engineering in various eras, a common practice in the Chrysler lineup to maximize tooling and production efficiency.
- Plymouth was discontinued after the 2001 model year, with Chrysler consolidating its lineup, while Dodge continued as a core brand.
The effect of this relationship is that Plymouth and Dodge were never the same company; they were separate marques owned by the same parent corporation, functioning as sibling brands within Chrysler's brand portfolio.
Current status and corporate lineage
To understand where things stand today, it's important to map the corporate changes that affected both brands and their status in the market now.
- As of 2021, the global automotive group formerly known as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) merged with PSA Group to form Stellantis, under which Dodge remains an active brand and Plymouth remains defunct.
- Dodge continues to be marketed with its own distinct lineup, dealer networks, and marketing identity, separate from Plymouth's historical branding.
- The Plymouth name has not been revived as an active consumer brand within Stellantis or its predecessor structures; there is no current Plymouth model lineup.
- The distinction between the brands persists in historical context: they were separate divisions with shared engineering at times, not the same company.
In practical terms for consumers, Dodge represents the ongoing corporate brand, while Plymouth lives on in memory and in the historical record of Chrysler's brand strategy, not as an active, selling marque today.
Why this matters for collectors and historians
For car enthusiasts, understanding the Plymouth–Dodge distinction matters when evaluating vintage models, matching VIN details, and tracing which dealership networks would have marketed specific models in particular eras.
Summary: Plymouth and Dodge were sibling brands under Chrysler, not the same company; Plymouth ended production in 2001, while Dodge continues as an active brand under Stellantis. The historical distinction remains important for enthusiasts and historians alike.
Final takeaway: Plymouth and Dodge operated as separate car brands within the same corporate family, with Plymouth now defunct and Dodge continuing to shape the brand landscape under Stellantis.
