Is Plymouth owned by Ford?
Plymouth is not owned by Ford. The brand was historically part of Chrysler and is now dormant under Stellantis, with no active Plymouth models produced since 2001.
Ownership history
To understand the question, it helps to map out Plymouth's corporate lineage and the major ownership changes that affected the brand.
- 1928: The Plymouth brand is launched by the Chrysler Corporation to offer an affordable, standalone line within Chrysler.
- 1930s–1950s: Plymouth becomes a significant mass-market brand in the United States, competing with Ford and General Motors.
- 1998: DaimlerChrysler merges, placing Plymouth within the merged group's Chrysler portfolio (DaimlerChrysler era).
- 2001: Chrysler retires the Plymouth brand; no new Plymouth models are produced thereafter.
- 2009–present: Chrysler restructures during bankruptcy proceedings; the brand remains defunct, and the corporate portfolio eventually becomes Stellantis in 2021. Plymouth has not been revived.
In summary, Ford has never owned Plymouth. The brand's history is tied to Chrysler and its successors, not to Ford.
Current status and ownership of the Plymouth name
Here is a quick snapshot of who owns the Plymouth name today and what that means for the brand's future.
- Owner: Stellantis, the multinational automaker formed in 2021 from the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Groupe PSA, which now controls the former Chrysler brand portfolio.
- Brand status: Dormant/defunct; there are no active Plymouth models, and there has been no official plan announced to revive the brand.
- Trademark and assets: The Plymouth trademark remains with Stellantis, though it has not been actively used for new models in recent years.
The practical takeaway is that Ford has no ownership claim to Plymouth; the brand belongs to Stellantis and currently exists as a historical note rather than a live product line.
Why this matters
Corporate ownership shapes which brands survive, which are retired, and how automotive history is remembered. Plymouth’s retirement in 2001 and its current dormant status reflect broader shifts in the U.S. auto industry and ongoing consolidation among automakers.
Summary
Plymouth is not owned by Ford. It was a Chrysler brand that was discontinued in 2001 and remains dormant under Stellantis. Ford has never owned Plymouth, and there are no announced plans to revive the brand.
Which brands are owned by Ford?
Ford currently owns the Ford and Lincoln brands. It also markets auto parts under the Motorcraft brand name. Ford used to own other brands like Mercury, Edsel, and Volvo (prior to 2010), but it no longer does.
- Ford: The company's primary automotive brand, known for models like the F-150 and Mustang.
- Lincoln: Ford's luxury automotive brand, which it has owned since 1922.
- Motorcraft: The brand under which Ford markets its auto parts.
Former brands that Ford no longer owns:
- Troller: Ford previously owned the Brazilian off-road vehicle manufacturer Troller, which was sold in 2021.
- Mercury: The Mercury brand was discontinued in 2010.
- Volvo: Ford sold its controlling interest in Volvo Cars in 2010.
- Mazda: Ford sold most of its stake in Mazda by 2015 and is no longer a part owner.
Was Plymouth a Ford company?
Plymouth was a brand of automobiles produced by Chrysler Corporation and its successor DaimlerChrysler. The brand was launched in 1928 to compete in what was then described as the "low-priced" market segment that was dominated by Chevrolet and Ford. It became a high-volume seller for the automaker until the late 1990s.
Who is Plymouth owned by?
The Plymouth car brand is no longer in production, but the intellectual property is owned by Stellantis, the company that owns Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep. Stellantis was formed in 2021 from the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and the PSA Group. Since 2001, Stellantis and its predecessors have owned the Plymouth trademark, which is not currently being used to produce new vehicles.
- Original owner: Plymouth was originally a brand of the Chrysler Corporation, created to offer affordable cars.
- DaimlerChrysler: The brand was eventually discontinued by DaimlerChrysler in 2001.
- Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA): The assets, including the Plymouth trademark, were passed to FCA.
- Stellantis: FCA then merged with PSA Group to form Stellantis, and the company now owns the Plymouth trademark.
Why did Chrysler get rid of Plymouth?
Chrysler discontinued the Plymouth brand due to a lack of product differentiation, financial struggles, and a changing market that made multiple, overlapping brands within Chrysler's portfolio inefficient. By the late 1990s, Plymouth models were often just rebadged Dodge or Chrysler vehicles, and by 2001, the brand had been phased out and its last vehicles absorbed by the Chrysler and Dodge lines.
- Lack of unique products: Plymouth began to lack distinct models that set it apart from Dodge, and eventually many of its cars were simply rebadged versions of Dodge or Chrysler vehicles. This made the brand seem redundant within Chrysler's own lineup.
- Financial and market pressures: The automotive market was changing, and the cost of producing and marketing multiple brands was a significant burden, especially as foreign competition grew. Chrysler's financial struggles led them to consolidate their brand portfolio to reduce costs.
- Redundant positioning: Plymouth was originally the value-priced brand, but other brands like Dodge began to fill similar niches, leading to confusion and a decline in Plymouth's sales and brand identity.
- Consolidation: By the late 1990s, the brand's lineup was small, and the decision was made to discontinue it. The last Plymouth, a silver Neon, rolled off the assembly line in June 2001. Some vehicles, like the PT Cruiser, were initially planned as Plymouths but were later branded as Chryslers, which signaled the impending demise of the Plymouth marque.
