What year did Dodge sell to Chrysler?
Dodge was sold to Chrysler in 1928. The acquisition brought Dodge Brothers’ manufacturing and a growing product line under the Chrysler umbrella, reshaping the trajectory of both brands for decades to come.
This article explores how that 1928 deal came about, the sequence of events that led to it, and the enduring impact it had on Dodge, Chrysler, and the broader American auto industry. We’ll also note how the corporate landscape has shifted since then and where Dodge stands today within Stellantis.
Timeline: From Dodge Brothers to Chrysler Acquisition
Key milestones that led to the 1928 acquisition and the immediate aftermath are outlined below.
- 1925: Walter P. Chrysler consolidates automotive assets to form the Chrysler Corporation, positioning the company to expand beyond its existing brands.
- 1928: Chrysler completes the purchase of the Dodge Brothers Company, bringing Dodge under the Chrysler corporate umbrella and expanding manufacturing capacity and product scope.
- Late 1920s–1930s: Dodge operates as a distinct marque within Chrysler, helping to diversify the lineup with passenger cars and trucks while sharing engineering with other Chrysler brands.
These milestones illustrate how the 1928 purchase was a strategic integration that empowered Chrysler to compete more effectively across segments and regions.
Impact and Legacy
Joining the Dodge brand to Chrysler created a blended corporate structure in which Dodge could leverage Chrysler’s distribution network, engineering resources, and capital to broaden its market reach.
Brand Positioning within Chrysler
Even after the acquisition, Dodge maintained its own identity, emphasizing performance and value. The partnership allowed Dodge to introduce stronger performance models and expand into trucks while sharing platforms and components with other Chrysler brands where appropriate.
Corporate Transformations
Over the decades, Chrysler’s corporate story included major reorganizations and mergers—ultimately evolving into DaimlerChrysler (1998), facing bankruptcy and restructuring in 2009, and, in 2014, integrating with Fiat to form what became Stellantis in 2021. Throughout these changes, Dodge remained a core brand within the evolving corporate group.
Current Status
Today, Dodge operates as a core brand of Stellantis, the global automotive group formed through the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Groupe PSA. The brand continues to produce performance-oriented cars and trucks, such as the Challenger and Charger, while benefiting from shared platforms and technologies across the Stellantis portfolio. The 1928 sale to Chrysler remains a foundational moment in Dodge’s long corporate lineage.
Summary
The sale of Dodge to Chrysler in 1928 linked two storied names in American automotive history and set the stage for decades of shared development, brand evolution, and strategic diversification. That 1928 acquisition is widely viewed as a turning point that shaped Dodge’s identity and its role within a consolidated Chrysler lineup—an arrangement that eventually evolved into the Stellantis corporate structure in the 21st century.
